Workforce Solutions outlines Infrastructure Academy launch, career navigation and childcare supports

Tamara Atkinson, CEO of Workforce Solutions Capital Area, told the Economic Opportunity Committee on March 21 that the Austin Infrastructure Academy will open its community-facing launch event March 26 and serve as a “career navigation marketplace” connecting Austinites to training and jobs tied to major public and private infrastructure projects.

The launch event is scheduled for March 26, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., at Workforce Solutions Capital Area’s facility, 9001 N. I‑35, Suite 110E. Atkinson said the event is the first of quarterly outreach activities intended to connect job seekers, training providers and infrastructure employers.

The academy is intended to coordinate training and employer demand tied to multiple large projects in Austin and the region — including Project Connect, airport expansion, I‑35 work and major private-sector employers — and to build career pathways rather than single short-term placements. Atkinson said Austin needs roughly 10,000 skilled workers annually to meet projected infrastructure demand and that the academy aims to reduce…