Federal, state and industry partners align to fast-track talent pipelines across North Texas
FORT WORTH, Texas — With North Texas employers facing growing talent shortages, Tarrant County College brought together federal, state and regional leaders Tuesday for an Apprenticeship Accelerator aimed at rapidly expanding Registered Apprenticeship programs across the region.
Hosted in partnership with Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County, the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board and the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Apprenticeship, the event centered on turning apprenticeship from concept into action — at speed and at scale.
“North Texas is growing, and the demand for skilled talent is rising just as quickly,” said TCC Chancellor Elva LeBlanc. “Today is about turning alignment into action — building pathways that meet workforce needs in real time while creating meaningful opportunities for our students.”
Apprenticeship Accelerators, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Labor, are designed to help employers launch Registered Apprenticeship programs quickly — in some cases within days — by streamlining the process and providing technical support.
For employers, the model offers a direct response to workforce pressures.
“Registered Apprenticeship is more than just a training program. It’s a strategic investment in the future,” said Dr. Trisha Evans, apprenticeship training representative for the U.S. Department of Labor. “Employers get a local, loyal, high-skilled workforce tailored to their specific needs.”
For students, the impact is equally immediate.
At TCC, where many students balance work and school, the earn-while-you-learn model offers a practical path forward.
“Seventy percent of our students are working while they’re in college — many full time,” Dr. LeBlanc said. “So, to be able to give them opportunities to learn while they earn is huge.”
Workforce partners echoed the retention and pipeline benefits that apprenticeship programs deliver to regional employers.
“Apprenticeships and internships are not just workforce programs, they are proven business strategies,” said WSTC Executive Director Robert Sturns. “They help employers build talent pipelines, improve retention and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving economy.”
State leaders pointed to apprenticeship as a way to develop local talent from within.
“Work-based learning allows employers to test drive the talent in their own backyard,” said Nahum Pacheco, senior director of employer partnerships for the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. “It’s an opportunity to bring talent into your organization and mold it into what you want to see.”
The event also addressed common barriers to adoption, including workforce classification and contractor structures, while highlighting real world examples of apprenticeship success across industries such as cybersecurity.
Registered Apprenticeship programs combine paid, on-the-job training with classroom instruction, resulting in nationally recognized credentials. The model is promoted under the National Apprenticeship Act, and programs are supported by the U.S. Department of Labor as a key workforce strategy.
The focus now shifts from alignment to execution, as partners explore apprenticeship opportunities across the region.
Tarrant County College serves nearly 100,000 students each year, offering accessible, affordable pathways to in-demand careers and university transfer. Across multiple campuses and TCC Connect — a fully online learning option — the College partners with more than 1,200 employers to help build the workforce that drives North Texas forward. Bold Steps. Better Futures.