Compass Donates $12.6M for Data Centre Training in Texas

Compass Datacenters (Compass) is donating a US$12.6m building to Texas State Technical College to facilitate the training of local students for careers supporting the regional digital economy.

The 40,000-square-foot facility is situated at the company's Red Oak campus in Texas and will serve as the dedicated home for the MEI Data Center Pathway Program.

Compass co-developed this mechanical, electrical and IT training initiative with Texas State Technical College (TSTC) to provide practical experience for technical roles. 

The scheme targets the widespread skills shortage across the digital economy, specifically addressing the industry shortfall of more than 500,000 skilled trade professionals each year. 

Rather than limiting the talent pool strictly to its own corporate operations, Compass has opened the programme to the entire digital infrastructure sector, welcoming customers, suppliers, service providers and competitors to participate and recruit graduates.

"When we build in a community, we commit to it for the long haul," says Chris Crosby, CEO of Compass Datacenters.

"We're handing TSTC a deed, not a check. This facility will be training a future-ready workforce long after our campus is fully operational.

"The jobs are real, the demand is real and the people in this region deserve a direct path to them. That's what this is all about."

Addressing the technical skills gap

The 12-week MEI Pathway programme is structured specifically for job seekers and career changers who do not possess a university degree or prior experience in the data centre space. 

By working directly with physical equipment, students build the exact competencies that employers require to operate complex power and cooling infrastructure, the company states.

The donation of a physical building ensures that trainees learn by doing on enterprise-grade hardware rather than digital or theoretical models alone. Working on systems identical to those supporting live digital infrastructure environments today gives these candidates an immediate advantage during the hiring process. 

Once the wider Compass Red Oak campus reaches completion, it will accommodate a workforce exceeding 400 individuals, encompassing both direct staff and clients operating on-site.

The college partnership ensures a steady pipeline of qualified mechanical and electrical technicians capable of sustaining operations of this scale.

"We've watched students come into this programme with no background in the field and walk out ready to start careers that will support their families for decades," says Mike Reeser, TSTC Chancellor and CEO.

"That's what happens when a curriculum is built around what employers need. This new facility means we will be able to give even more people the same life-changing opportunity."

Industry partners supply real-world infrastructure

While Compass Datacenters originated the partnership and funded full-tuition scholarships for the inaugural class of students, a wider coalition of industry peers has since co-invested in the talent pipeline. 

Businesses including Schneider Electric, Siemens, Vertiv, RK Industries, Brasfield & Gorrie, Catapult Solutions Group, Maverick Power, Rubicon Technical Services and Salute are equipping the newly donated facility. 

These organisations are supplying real-world systems to ensure the training environment reflects the latest technological standards. Industry partners also offer additional scholarships and actively recruit graduates to fill vacant roles across their own mechanical, electrical and IT departments.

"Data centres create careers, and this programme is helping make that opportunity more accessible,” says Vandana Singh, SVP of Secure Power North America at Schneider Electric.

“Schneider Electric is proud to partner with Compass Datacenters in support of the MEI Pathway program, bringing our energy tech to help build the skilled talent the AI era demands, right here in Ellis County and across North Texas.”

Expanding access to high-paying jobs

Graduates completing the Texas State Technical College curriculum are entering a tight labour market with substantial earning potential. Individuals securing employment in the Dallas and Fort Worth area often step into positions paying between 30 and 50% above local median salaries. 

The programme is currently in its second year and has successfully placed alumni in roles with major employers such as CBRE, Salute, Schneider Electric and Siemens. Due to high demand from the local community, the Red Oak programme maintains a growing waitlist. The new US$12.6m building will allow the college to accept higher student numbers and reduce wait times for prospective technicians.

"Siemens has recently hired about a dozen graduates from TSTC's programme," says Kimberly Blind, Vice President of Customer Service, Electrification and Automation, Siemens Smart Infrastructure USA.

“It's initiatives like the MEI Pathway Program that provide an invaluable talent pipeline as we gear up to hire an additional 200 electrical service technicians.

"As AI, data centres and advanced industry continue to expand, these advancements are not only transforming how we live and work, they're also driving increased demand for critical energy infrastructure and a highly skilled American workforce."

Future growth of the training pipeline

To address the skills shortage beyond Ellis County, Compass Datacenters and Texas State Technical College have already expanded the MEI Pathway programme to the college's Abilene campus. 

Compass is also working alongside local educational institutions in other states to replicate the curriculum elsewhere.