Houston, T.X., September 15, 2025  – Since launching in 2023, the Per Scholas Houston campus has trained more than 250 learners, equipping them with critical tech skills such as Cloud Computing, Cybersecurity, and IT Support. Our alumni have earned jobs at employers including AT&T, IRISNDT, Buchanan Technologies, Titan Technologies, and Preferred Technologies.

“As Houston continues to lead the way in energy innovation, our Power Up: Houston event proved how powerful collaboration can be,” said Per Scholas Houston Managing Director Tondalayo Hall. “By bringing together industry leaders, workforce development experts, and community partners at Capgemini during Houston Energy and Climate Startup Week, we highlighted the incredible potential of a well-rounded, tech-skilled energy workforce. This gathering was more than a conversation. It was a catalyst for the relationships, ideas, and opportunities that will drive our city’s energy future.”

Today, top leaders in the energy, utilities, and technology sectors explored the powerful intersection of innovation and workforce development among industry peers at Power Up: Houston, hosted at Capgemini. Caitlyn Brazill, President, Per Scholas, and  Kenneth Walker, Executive Vice President of Inclusion & Culture, Per Scholas, were in attendance. 

Central to the event was an Industry Expert Panel moderated by Janet Pope, Vice President, Corporate Responsibility & Engagement – Americas Region, Capgemini. Panelists included Bhavani Arabandi, Principal Research Associate – Work, Education & Labor Division, Urban Institute; Bryant Black, Founder, Black Arrow Group; Claire Gauthier, Executive Vice President, Global Energy & Utilities Industry, Capgemini; and Tondalayo Hall, Managing Director, Per Scholas Houston. Carla Walker-Miller, CEO of Walker-Miller Energy Solutions, a featured panelist from Power Up: Detroit, also joined as a featured guest in Houston.

Power Up: Houston was held in collaboration with the Urban Institute, IREC, and CareerEquity. This grant-funded partnership delivers worker-centered training tailored to the energy sector’s IT needs. Per Scholas Houston also extends gratitude to partnerships with Rice Management Company, The Ion, The Herzstein Foundation, Comcast, and The Texas Workforce Commission, without whom our work would not be possible. 

Contact: Rafael Gerena, Vice President of Communications & Policy, Per Scholas

communications@perscholas.org

About Per Scholas                           

As Per Scholas celebrates 30 years of impact, we are charting an ambitious path forward, expanding access to high-growth tech careers and fostering economic mobility nationwide. Since 1995, we’ve offered no-cost tech training to more than 30,000 technologists in the most sought-after tech skills, generating over $35 billion in increased personal earnings. With 20+ campuses and remote programs, we partner with employers—from Fortune 500 companies to startups—to create inclusive talent pipelines in fields like Cloud, Cybersecurity, Data Engineering, IT Support, and Software Engineering. More than half of our learners hold a high school diploma as their highest educational credential. We are building a future where successful careers in tech are accessible to everyone across urban, suburban, and rural communities, empowering individuals to unlock their potential and drive transformative economic change nationwide.

Learn more at PerScholas.org and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube.

This event is part of the Power Up Series that was created by Per Scholas and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL). DOL makes no guarantees, warranties, or assurances of any kind, express or implied, with respect to such information, including any information on linked sites and including, but not limited to, accuracy of the information or its completeness, timeliness, usefulness, adequacy, continued availability, or ownership. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. The total cost of the Power IT project is $5,815,899. $5,000,000 (86 percent) is funded through the Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program of the U.S. Department of Labor–Employment and Training Administration. The other $815,899 (14 percent) is funded through nonfederal resources.

Per Scholas Houston proudly collaborated with Ion Houston to bring together industry leaders from J.P. Morgan, Microsoft, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and our President & CEO for the event, TECHnique: The Unique Perspectives of Leaders in the Tech Ecosystem.

This event offered a unique opportunity to explore the perspectives shaping today’s tech workforce. Panelists discussed challenges and opportunities in technology development, industry needs, tech training opportunities available within the Houston community, and valuable insights into how these organizations collaborate to strengthen the tech ecosystem.

Panelists included Plinio Ayala, Peter Beard, Rob Schapiro, and Karthigeyan Kuppan. Their expertise and the insights they shared tackled key challenges and opportunities shaping today’s tech workforce.

When it comes to tech hubs in the United States, a few cities or regions typically come to mind. Of course, there’s Silicon Valley and the San Francisco Bay area. You might think of Fishkill, New York, where IBM innovated for decades in facilities that now belong to the semiconductor giant GlobalFoundries. Now, there’s a new city establishing itself as one of the fastest-growing hubs for IT tech talent in America — Houston, Texas.

While Austin has traditionally been associated with the tech industry in the Lone Star State, Houston is quickly becoming the new IT capital of Texas. As CIO Magazine said in March 2024, “Houston has emerged as a top Texas competitor to Austin for tech companies, entrepreneurs, and employees who are looking for a lower cost of living.”

The magazine further reported on the tech investment in the city: “In the past five years, venture-backed startups in Houston have received more than $6 billion in venture capital funding, with the city launching more than 80 startup development organizations (SDOs).” 

At the center of all this growth is the Ion District, described by the Greater Houston Partnership as a “16-acre innovation community and economic engine.” It’s no coincidence that the nonprofit IT training organization Per Scholas chose to open its Houston tech training facility in the Ion District, creating a homegrown talent network for Houston’s thriving tech scene.

The ION District and Per Scholas: A Perfect Pair for Houston

According to the Ion District’s 2024 Community Investment Report, workforce development for Houston IT employers is a major focus. That’s out of necessity, as the district’s Houston Facts report noted Houston’s leading position in tech job posting growth nationwide in 2022, with a remarkable 45.6% year-over-year increase.

Per Scholas opened its Houston facility in July 2023, and the timing was right for an IT workforce development partnership. The Ion District and Per Scholas teamed up for a Tech Job Training and Talent Placement Program. In a short time, the program has seen significant growth, receiving over 930 applications, enrolling 48 students across three cohorts, and achieving a 21-graduate milestone. 

Diversity in Tech Training: Opportunities for Everyone

Another thing that makes Per Scholas and the Ion District a good match is their shared commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Working together, Per Scholas and the Ion District strive to provide IT career opportunities and equitable access for all members of the Houston community. 

The latest Per Scholas stats show that 85 percent of their learners are people of color. More than 40 percent identify as women, and more than half have a high school diploma for their highest education credential.

For its part, the Ion District actively promotes diversity within Houston’s tech ecosystem through its Inclusive Tech Accelerator and Inclusive Tech Investment Fund. This initiative is backed by a combined $6.5 million investment from Rice University, providing crucial support to minority and women-owned businesses (MWBEs) in advancing their products and services.

The district has also implemented an MWBE Outreach and Technical Assistance program, hosting seven events attended by over 800 individuals. This program connects MWBEs with expert advisors to guide them in navigating and capitalizing on economic development opportunities within the Ion District.

Per Scholas IT Courses Offered in Houston

Per Scholas’ Houston facility offers industry-standard training across a wide range of IT subjects to equip alumni with the most in-demand skills. One of the more popular Per Scholas programs is the IT Support course. Learners receive comprehensive training in IT support fundamentals, culminating in the prestigious Google IT Support Professional Certificate and the industry-standard CompTIA A+ certification. 

Designed for individuals with no prior IT experience or coursework, Per Scholas programs like the IT Support course equip learners with the practical skills and knowledge sought after by employers in Houston’s rapidly evolving tech sector.

For those with some previous experience, Per Scholas offers the Software Engineer program. This 15-week course covers front-end development with React and back-end development with Node.js. It then moves into advanced topics like design patterns and system architecture. Recognizing the rapid pace of technological advancement, the curriculum undergoes a thorough review and updates every two quarters to ensure learners have the most relevant and up-to-date skills.

Learn More About Per Scholas Houston Tech Training

Houston is a natural fit for Per Scholas, as the national nonprofit organization has a long history of providing IT training where it can make the most impact. Besides Houston, Per Scholas operates in several major cities across the United States, including New York City, Washington D.C., Baltimore, Atlanta, Detroit, and more.

At all their locations, Per Scholas programs offer intensive, skills-based training programs emphasizing diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Per Scholas has also implemented several successful job placement programs across its facilities, ensuring alumni can secure good jobs in their local technology sectors. To learn more, view the upcoming courses at Per Scholas Houston.

Per Scholas is grateful to be a recipient of the Texas Talent Connection Grant program, from the Office of Texas Governor Greg Abbott. The $350,000 investment will support our campuses in Houston and Dallas in scaling no-cost technical skills training, professional development and job placement services to Texas learners, serving Collin, Dallas, Denton, Fort Bend, Harris, Houston, and Tarrant counties. The funds will create new pathways to job opportunities such as help desk analysts, desktop support technicians, and associate network engineers in the information technology industry. 

Administered through the Texas Workforce Investment Council, over $6.3 million in grants were awarded this month to organizations leading innovative education and workforce skills training programs that ensure Texas’ growing workforce and businesses are prepared to successfully operate in an ever-changing 21st century economy. 

“Our cities are seeing growth in tech roles across industries, especially in education and technology,” said Per Scholas Houston Managing Director Tondalayo Hall. “To meet the demand and ensure that more Texans have access to the economic mobility that the innovation sector offers, organizations like Per Scholas are critical in building on-ramps for those new to the field.”

To learn more about this grant, read the full press release.

Per Scholas was awarded a grant as part of Governor Greg Abbott’s over $6.3 million in Texas Talent Connection grants. Per Scholas is one of 20 innovative workforce skills training and job placement programs in communities across the state that was awarded from the grants.

The $350,000 grant is for year one of the Creating Economic Mobility and Robust Futures Through Information Technology Training project serving Collin, Dallas, Denton, Fort Bend, Harris, Houston, and Tarrant counties for the Per Scholas Dallas and Per Scholas Houston campuses.

Learn more about this grant here.