Three of the biggest names in digital infrastructure have committed funding to skilled trades training within weeks of each other, and Compass is proud to be part of that momentum. A recent Construction Digital feature places our $12.6 million donation to Texas State Technical College (TSTC) alongside Meta’s $115 million America’s Workforce Academy and Google’s $50 million AI Opportunity Fund, three different approaches to the same urgent problem: a construction industry short more than 500,000 skilled trade professionals every year.
A Deed, Not a Check
Compass donated a 40,000-square-foot building at its Red Oak, Texas campus to house the Mechanical, Electrical and IT (MEI) Data Center Pathway Program. The 12-week program requires no university degree or prior data center experience, and students train directly on enterprise-grade power and cooling systems identical to what they’ll work on in the field.
“We’re handing TSTC a deed, not a check,” said Chris Crosby, CEO of Compass Datacenters. “This facility will be training a future-ready workforce long after our campus is fully operational.”
What sets the Compass model apart: the program is open to customers, suppliers, service providers and even competitors. Any data center operator or construction firm can recruit graduates, not just Compass.
Real Hiring, Real Results
The program is already in its second year with a growing waitlist. Industry partners are putting their hiring where the training is:
- Schneider Electric has hired graduates into its Secure Power North America division. “We’re proud to partner with Compass Datacenters in support of the MEI Pathway program… to help build the skilled talent the AI era demands, right here in Ellis County and across North Texas,” said Vandana Singh, SVP of Secure Power North America.
- Siemens has hired approximately 12 graduates and is gearing up to hire 200 more electrical service technicians.
- CBRE and Salute have also hired program alumni.
Graduates landing jobs in the Dallas-Fort Worth area often step into roles paying 30 to 50 percent above local median salaries.
Growing Beyond Red Oak
Compass and TSTC have already expanded the MEI program to TSTC’s Abilene campus, and Compass is working with other educational institutions to bring the curriculum to additional states.
“We’ve watched students come into this program with no background in the field and walk out ready to start careers that will support their families for decades,” said Mike Reeser, TSTC Chancellor and CEO. “That’s what happens when a curriculum is built around what employers need.”
How the Three Programs Compare
- Compass: Donated a physical training facility; owned by TSTC and open to any employer to recruit from
- Meta: $115 million first-year budget, guarantees jobs to all graduates, delivered through CBRE and Associated Builders and Contractors across pilot states
- Google: $50 million fund targeting 300,000 workers across 20+ states, delivered through 14 labor unions and trade associations, no job guarantee attached
At Compass, this is a reminder that solving the AI infrastructure boom isn’t just about building capacity; it’s about building the workforce that will run it for decades to come.
