HOUSTON, United States — Meta will launch a $115 million workforce training initiative in Houston and three other U.S. cities as part of a pilot program aimed at expanding skilled labor for data center and artificial intelligence infrastructure, the company announced on Monday.
Meta said it opened registration for America’s Workforce Academy, which will operate in Houston, Texas; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Indianapolis, Indiana; and Columbus, Ohio. The program will train participants in skilled trades, including electrical, mechanical, and fiber installation work, and will prepare them for certification through the National Center for Construction Education and Research.
The company said the program will be free for participants and will include a job guarantee for graduates. Meta described the initiative as a $115 million first-year investment and said it represents a major private-sector effort to expand workforce training in the skilled trades.
Meta vice president of data centers Rachel Peterson said the program responds to demand for workers needed to build artificial intelligence infrastructure. She said the industry requires electricians, mechanics, and fiber technicians to support data center development.
The National Urban League and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce are among the organizations partnering with Meta on the initiative, along with Associated Builders and Contractors and Workforce Solutions Borderplex.
National Urban League president Marc H. Morial said the program provides industry credentials and removes cost barriers for participants. Mike Rowe, an advocate for skilled trades training, said the initiative allows participants to earn pay while learning and receive job placement after certification.
Meta said it cannot yet specify how many jobs the Houston program will create. The company said the academy expands on its LevelUp initiative, which focuses on training fiber installation workers and received 35,000 applications within its first week.
