Facebook is launching the job-training program — “Hardhat in Hand” — at its active data center construction sites, including its Mesa center.
The program is to create new opportunities and a pipeline of skills-trained professionals in metro Phoenix, according to a release.
“The Hardhat in Hand program is attempting to address a key need — lack of skilled workers in the construction industry — that Mesa and others are facing,” the release states.
Job-seekers can get news about the program, anticipated to start in 2022, by going to the Facebook page dedicated to the $800 million Mesa data center to be constructed in the city’s Elliot Road technology corridor.
“Please keep an eye out on our Mesa data center Facebook page — facebook.com/FBMesaDataCenter,” said David Williams, community development regional manager for Facebook’s data centers in the Southwest.
Facebook or its contractor is also to work with a local college and possibly the East Valley Institute of Technology, both which have welding and construction programs, to staff its facility.
“We will be working with a local college but we have not yet confirmed who that partner will be. Our local construction partner, DPR Construction, has relationships with CTE programs like EVIT,” Williams said.
Hardhat in Hand
The Hardhat in Hand program is sponsored by Facebook and creates a partnership with its general contractor, DPR Construction, at the Facebook Mesa data center, the release states.
“The program offers hands-on training for individuals to create a diverse pipeline of workers that is needed for projects like the construction of the Mesa data center as well as other projects in the Phoenix area. This program has three primary objectives — expanding the local skilled trades talent pipeline, increasing diversity in the construction industry and providing a path to reliable well-paid job opportunities,” the release states. “The current workforce shortage is top-of-mind in Arizona where the total construction jobs available outnumber the total available workers to fill them. Mesa data center will employ 1,500 construction jobs at the height of construction.”
Richard Dyer Managing Editor | East Valley @RHDyer
Meet Richard Richard Dyer has worked at Independent Newsmedia Inc. USA since 1987, starting his career in Apache Junction as a copy editor and being promoted over the years to work as the editor of the Mesa Independent, news services editor for the East Valley office in Apache Junction, managing editor for the East Valley office, news services editor for the East Valley office and eventually also for the newspapers at INI’s then-Chandler office, managing editor again and as a news editor covering Apache Junction/Gold Canyon and Queen Creek. He helped start the Florence Independent while the news editor covering Apache Junction and Mesa news. In January 2023, he became associate managing editor for the East Valley newspapers and in August 2023 became managing editor for the East Valley newspapers of Chandler/Tempe, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Florence, Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon, while also reporting on Mesa and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon.
Community: Since 2009, he has worked as a volunteer to design The Blue Guitar Magazine, Blue Guitar Jr. magazine and Unstrung magazine, which are projects of The Arizona Consortium for the Arts; and since 2014, has been overseeing the art submissions.
Education: University of Arizona with a master of arts in journalism and a bachelor of science in agricultural communication. Also continuing education at Mesa Community College in welding in a metal art sculpture class.
Random fact: Saw his first tornado on May 31, 2010, which was classified as an EF-2, as part of a stormchasing tour group.
Hobbies: He is an artist of welded-steel sculptures, selling his artwork at juried and non-juried art shows.
By 
Comments
No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here