WSRCA Joins with American YouthWorks to Expand Career Training in Rural Central Texas
Sep 16, 2026
$1.5 million U.S. Department of Labor YouthBuild grant awarded to WSRCA will bring training closer to young people in Taylor, Lockhart and surrounding rural communities
CEDAR PARK, Texas – Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (WSRCA) is joining with American YouthWorks to expand career training opportunities in Taylor and Lockhart, Texas, through a new $1.5 million U.S. Department of Labor YouthBuild grant awarded to WSRCA.
The investment is part of a broader national YouthBuild effort administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration to connect young people who face barriers to employment with education, workforce training and supportive services. Approximately 200 active Department of Labor YouthBuild programs operate across 40 states, serving about 5,000 young people each year.
The partnership will bring education, industry-recognized credentials and hands-on workforce training to eastern Williamson and Caldwell counties, helping close a geographic gap in access across the eastern side of the Rural Capital Area. With training closer to home, young people in these communities and the rural areas between them can pursue career pathways without relying on lengthy commutes to Austin-area campuses.
The initiative will serve up to 66 young people through a Construction Plus pre-apprenticeship model that combines education, hands-on training, work experience and industry-recognized credentials with pathways into skilled trades and healthcare careers.
For young people in rural communities, distance can be a significant barrier to workforce training. Reaching Austin-area colleges and specialized training facilities can require lengthy commutes, with transportation costs, work schedules and family responsibilities making those trips difficult to sustain. Bringing training to Taylor and Lockhart makes those opportunities more accessible while helping communities develop skilled talent closer to home.
“This partnership gives us an opportunity to close a real gap in workforce access on the eastern side of our region,” said Paul Fletcher, CEO of WSRCA. “Taylor and Lockhart give us two important anchors across eastern Williamson and Caldwell counties. Instead of asking young people to make long commutes to access opportunity, we can bring high-quality training, credentials and career connections closer to where they live. That strengthens opportunities for young people while building the local talent pipeline our employers need.”
Bringing Career Training Closer to Home
YouthBuild participants will have opportunities to earn stackable, industry-recognized credentials, including National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) construction credentials and Occupational Safety and Health Administration 10-hour (OSHA-10) certification, while preparing for employment, registered apprenticeships and continued education.
Through collaboration with Austin Community College, eligible participants will also have opportunities to take Beginning and Intermediate Welding courses at the ACC Lockhart campus. The Construction Plus model will also provide pathways into healthcare careers. Applied artificial intelligence literacy will be incorporated into occupational training, giving participants practical experience using emerging technology for workplace tasks such as planning, estimating, scheduling, documentation and problem solving.
Education will be integrated with the Texas Workforce Commission Adult Education and Literacy system through the Austin Community College Adult Education and Literacy Consortium. Participants will receive individualized support to address barriers to completing training and moving into employment or continued education.
Employer connections will be built throughout the program, with placement assistance and 12 months of follow-up support helping participants transition into employment, registered apprenticeships or postsecondary education.
“We are excited to partner with Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area, the U.S. Department of Labor, and local government and employer partners to bring 50 years of experience in workforce skills development, education and service to these communities,” said Parc Smith, Chief Executive Officer of American YouthWorks. “Together, we’re expanding access to career and education opportunities for more young adults.”
Building Experience to Create Local Opportunity
American YouthWorks brings more than 30 years of experience serving young adults and has operated YouthBuild programming in Central Texas since 1994, including experience with more than nine previous U.S. Department of Labor YouthBuild grants.
WSRCA brings its regional network of employers, educators, workforce partners and community organizations across the nine-county Rural Capital Area. Together, the organizations will build on partnerships with Austin Community College, local governments, workforce programs, registered apprenticeship programs, employers and community organizations to connect education and training with credentials and career opportunities.
The program will also incorporate project-based service learning and hands-on work experience, allowing participants to develop skills while contributing to their communities.
Expanding training capacity in Taylor and Lockhart creates opportunities beyond the individual participants. It strengthens local talent pipelines, helps employers connect with skilled workers and gives more young people a chance to build careers without having to leave their communities to get started.
WSRCA and American YouthWorks will formally announce the partnership on September 18 at 11 a.m., during the grand opening of the Workforce Solutions of Williamson County – Taylor Center at 111 W. 3rd Street, Suite 200, in Taylor. Additional information about enrollment, eligibility, training schedules and participation will be released as program implementation gets underway.
RSVP: https://bit.ly/wsrcataylorgrandopening
Funding Disclosure: This project is funded by a U.S. Department of Labor YouthBuild grant. $1.5 million (75%) of the total program cost is financed with federal funds, with $375,000 (25%) financed by non-federal sources, for a total project cost of $1.875 million.
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About Workforce Solutions Rural Capital Area (WSRCA)
WSRCA is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community partnership and the certified workforce authority for the nine-county Rural Capital Area of Central Texas, which includes Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Caldwell, Fayette, Hays, Lee, Llano, and Williamson counties. WSRCA strengthens regional prosperity by connecting people, employers, and opportunities through no-cost services such as career coaching, training in high-demand fields, child care tuition scholarships, hiring events, and labor market insights. By equipping residents with skills for career success and providing employers with tailored workforce solutions, WSRCA helps ensure the region remains competitive, resilient, and ready for growth.
American YouthWorks helps young people build skills, achieve academic success and create pathways to meaningful careers through education, workforce training and service. Founded in Austin in 1975, AYW operates YouthBuild and Conservation Corps programs that combine hands-on learning, career preparation and supportive services to help young people reach their goals and strengthen their communities.
YouthBuild is a workforce development pre-apprenticeship program administered by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration that provides education, training and wraparound supportive services to young people who face barriers to employment.
YouthBuild programs combine academic instruction, industry-recognized credentials, workforce preparation, community service and supportive services while creating pathways to employment, registered apprenticeships and postsecondary education. Under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, YouthBuild is designated as a pre-apprenticeship program and works with workforce systems and apprenticeship sponsors to establish pipelines into apprenticeship opportunities.