TEXO Foundation launches mobile construction workshop in North Texas

The TEXO Foundation has launched the Be Pro Be Proud Mobile Workshop in Texas to expose North Texas students to construction careers and help address the region’s labor shortage. The program will visit DFW high schools, reach more than 1,500 students in its first six months and is backed by $1.7 million from corporate and foundation partners.

Why it matters: - North Texas construction employers face a labor shortage as fewer students see skilled trades as a first-choice career path. - The mobile workshop is designed to make construction jobs feel more accessible, more technical and more rewarding to students. - The program aims to connect classroom learning with high-demand careers that support Texas’s growing economy.

What happened: - The TEXO Foundation launched the Be Pro Be Proud Mobile Workshop in Texas. - The nonprofit workforce development arm of the TEXO Association is leading the initiative. - Major supporters include Meta, Procore Technologies, the Dallas College Foundation, American Subcontractors Association North Texas and Skanska USA. - The launch is positioned as an inaugural Texas rollout of the Be Pro Be Proud model. - The foundation will bring the workshop to DFW high schools during its first six months. - The program is expected to engage more than 1,500 students in that period.

The details: - The mobile workshop uses virtual reality and augmented reality simulators. - Students can try scenarios such as operating heavy equipment, welding pipe and managing complex site tasks. - The experience is meant to introduce students to multiple skilled-trade career paths. - The launch is backed by $1.7 million in funding from corporate partners, private foundations and industry leaders. - Texas State Technical College is a partner in the launch. - The college said the initiative aligns with its mission to place more Texans in great-paying jobs. - The workshop will be open to media, educators and students on Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Dallas College Coppell Center, 101 S. Royal Lane, Coppell, Texas 75019. - Visitors at the event will be able to test the simulators and meet industry professionals. - Schools can request a visit from the mobile workshop at more information.

Between the lines: - TEXO is trying to change the image of construction from a backup option to a career track with clear pay and growth potential. - The use of immersive simulators suggests the program is aiming to meet students where they are: hands-on, visual and career-curious. - The partnership list shows an effort to align employers, educators and industry groups around the same workforce pipeline. - Meloni Raney, president and CEO of TEXO, said construction underpins the Texas economy and more needs to be done to tell that story.

What's next: - The mobile workshop will begin its DFW high school schedule in the first six months after launch. - TEXO Foundation will continue recruiting schools interested in hosting the workshop. - The September 16 event in Coppell gives the public a first look at the simulators and the program’s approach.

The bottom line: - Texas construction leaders are betting that early, interactive exposure can help fill the industry’s future talent pipeline.