Powering Progress: The WorkSITE Ignites a New Era of Workforce Training in McLennan County

With industry-responsive programs and strong local collaboration, this innovative training hub is preparing Wacoans for high-demand careers while fueling economic mobility.

In a time when the need for skilled workers is rapidly rising across Central Texas, a unique partnership has emerged to meet the moment: The WorkSITE, a joint venture between McLennan County, the City of Waco and Texas State Technical College (TSTC), is officially open. Its mission? Providing fast, flexible training that creates real local pathways to good-paying jobs while meeting the skilled labor needs of a booming local industry scene. 

According to TSTC Waco Provost Beth Wooten, what makes The WorkSITE stand out is not only the hands-on training it provides, but the unique coalition that made it possible.

“What makes The WorkSITE so unique is that this kind of collaboration between the city, the county and TSTC has never happened before,” Wooten said. “It’s a truly innovative approach to addressing the skilled workforce needs of our community.”

Meeting the Moment with Agility

Designed to offer short-term, high-impact training programs in areas like industrial systems and advanced manufacturing, The WorkSITE fills a critical gap between traditional degree programs and immediate employer needs, as well making these career pathways more accessible to nontraditional, underemployed or unemployed students.

“We’ve designed programs that can run for one day, two weeks or six weeks, depending on what our industry partners and incoming students need,” Wooten explained. “That allows us to be incredibly nimble.”

Industry partners like Graphic Packaging International and Sanderson Farms have already begun collaborating with TSTC through The WorkSITE. Graphic Packaging, for instance, has been working with TSTC for years in preparation for opening its local plant, resulting in a customized onboarding and training curriculum. “We’ll have helped them hire and train over 200 employees,” Wooten shared.

This agile, employer-responsive model is built into the space itself. The WorkSITE’s open labs feature heavy-duty, mobile equipment and modular layouts, allowing for fast reconfiguration.

“We can roll in big equipment on Monday and roll it out Wednesday if a new class needs it,” Wooten said.

Supporting Students Beyond the Training Lab

But the facility’s greatest value might be how it has the potential to lower thresholds for those who have traditionally faced daunting barriers on high-wage career paths. Through its partnership with Prosper Waco’s UpSkill Waco initiative, in its first year, the WorkSITE was able to support learners who were unemployed or underemployed, connecting them to scholarships, transportation support and career coaching.

“Prosper Waco is the expert in outreach,” said Wooten. “We’re the training experts, but Prosper Waco has connected us with the populations who need these opportunities most.”

That alignment between training and access is central to Prosper Waco’s mission, said CEO Jessica Attas, who emphasized the importance of breaking down financial barriers to career advancement.

“We are thrilled to have supported the success of the opening of The WorkSITE,” Attas said. “By removing financial barriers through scholarships, provided by philanthropy and generous community and corporate donors, we’re helping connect more people in our community to high-impact training and real job opportunities. This collective effort is about opening doors for economic mobility and building a stronger Waco for everyone.”

Student success is also supported beyond the classroom. TSTC extends services like financial aid, access to its food pantry and on-site amenities for working adults.

“They might be coming straight from a full day at work,” Wooten noted. “So, we have a break area where they can heat up meals, a place to change clothes and even snacks to keep them going.”

From Wooten’s perspective, it’s about creating meaningful, lasting impact. “With a little bit of training, there are jobs in McLennan County just waiting. You can build a tremendous life and career with our industry partners.”

Industry Roots and Real-World Perspective

That message resonates deeply with Rick Tullis, Co-Chair of The WorkSITE Advisory Board and co-founder of Capstone Mechanical. With more than 25 years in the HVAC and manufacturing industries, Tullis understands first-hand the challenge of finding skilled workers—and the importance of building the pipeline yourself.

“We used to joke that our hiring strategy couldn’t just be putting a ‘Help Wanted’ sign on the door,” Tullis said. “When you’re growing a business in a mature market, you have to invest in developing talent.”

That realization led Tullis to help be a part of launching local initiatives like the Greater Waco Advanced Manufacturing Academy and to serve on the TSTC HVAC advisory board before stepping into his current role with The WorkSITE.

“There are a ton of great jobs that don’t require years of training,” he said. “If someone has even basic foundational skills, we can take it from there.”

The key, according to Tullis, is accessibility—both geographic and financial. That’s why the location of The WorkSITE, right in the industrial core of Waco, was strategic.

“We didn’t want this tucked into some corner of town,” Tullis explained. “We wanted it where the jobs are, where employers can walk in and engage.”

That proximity enables employers to not only help shape curriculum but to interview and hire directly from the training pipeline.

“When businesses are sitting at the table, they can tell us exactly what skills they need,” Tullis said. “And when those students walk out of a training program, they’re ready to work.”

The WorkSITE Executive Advisory Committee Tullis co-chairs includes representatives from major employers who provide ongoing feedback, participate in mock interviews and sometimes even deliver their own trainings at the facility.

From his perspective, it’s about building a sustainable, scalable model that benefits both workers and employers.

Full Speed Ahead

Since opening, The WorkSITE has exceeded expectations, with demand already prompting some classes to be held in overflow spaces like conference rooms.

“It’s busy—and that’s a good problem,” Wooten said. “We’ve already had to optimize our space to fit more in.”

Tullis sees that momentum only increasing.

“We’re just starting out, in our infancy stage and crawling right now,” he said. “But five years from now, we’ll be running. We’ll have more success stories, even more businesses engaged and more people changing the trajectory of their lives through training.”

And as Waco’s economy continues to grow, he believes The WorkSITE could be the region’s secret weapon in attracting and supporting major employers.

“Workforce is always one of the top concerns for companies looking to relocate or expand,” Tullis said. “When they tour The WorkSITE, they realize—we’re doing something here that other communities aren’t.”

For both Wooten and Tullis, The WorkSITE represents more than a facility—it’s a community commitment to making sure every Wacoan has a chance to thrive in the local economy. Prosper Waco is pleased to help make that a reality by connecting the people who need the training directly with the opportunity. 

“We’re just getting started,” Wooten said. “But the future is incredibly bright.”

To contribute to the UpSkill Waco Scholarship fund, click here or visit www.upskill-waco.org/donate