Amarillo College's Impact on the Panhandle
Did you know students who earn an associate’s degree from Amarillo College see an average return rate of 25% for their investment? This translates to a return of $4.50 in future earnings for every dollar students invest in their education. This investment impacts our region with our graduates supporting one out of every 22 jobs regionally. Through 2028, Amarillo’s workforce is projected to grow 16.79% across industries annually.
According to Kevin Carter, CEO of Amarillo Economic Development Corporation (AEDC), Amarillo and the Panhandle region is attracting infrastructure development at substantial growth. In 2022 alone, the AEDC announced seven significant projects with a total capital investment of over $2 billion. For example, CVMR, a metal refining technology provider that mines and refines its mineral resources, will invest $1.5 billion in our community; Albers Aerospace, a defense aerospace company that supplies engineering, manufacturing, and aviation services, will invest $50 million; Coast Packing, a livestock and meat-packing company, will invest $430 million; and, Producer Owned Beef, a newly founded company owned and operated by cattle ranchers and feeders, will build a state-of-the-art fed cattle processing plant with an investment of $840 million.
AC and AEDC are working together to meet the workforce development and training needs for our community. AC is building new high-tech and industry-specific skills programs to support companies like Albers Aerospace and CVMR. We are aligning industry-recognized educational certificates with labor market demand to meet the needs of companies like Producer Owned Beef and Coast Packing. AC created the Innovation Outpost to improve access to technology and digital transformation, meeting the needs of our business community and continue our region’s growth in the areas of technology, manufacturing, and bioscience.
In 2018, Dr. Lowery-Hart testified before the US Senate HELP Committee. His words still ring true today for our students and our region: “Students attending Amarillo College, and community colleges across the country, define the future of our country and its capacity for economic growth and prosperity in a global society.”
Blog written by Cara Crowley, VP of Strategic Initiatives
