Open to Cherokee Citizens Nationwide
By Cara Cowan Watts, Cherokee411.com
June 29, 2026
Meta, the technology company behind Facebook and Instagram, has launched America’s Workforce Academy (AWA) — a nationwide program offering free skilled-trades training, fully paid travel and lodging, a daily stipend, and a guaranteed job offer upon graduation. Applications are open to eligible residents of all 50 states, including Cherokee Nation citizens and citizens of all three federally recognized Cherokee Tribes.
No prior experience is required. The program is designed for veterans, recent graduates, career changers, and anyone new to the trades.
What the Program Covers
AWA is a five-week, intensive boot camp that prepares participants for entry-level skilled-trades positions supporting AI data center construction and related infrastructure. Graduates earn two portable, industry-recognized credentials:
- A National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) certification
- An America’s Workforce Certificate
Trade tracks include electrical work, mechanical systems, plumbing, welding, fiber optics, and HVAC installation.
What It Costs You — Nothing
Meta covers all costs for accepted participants, including:
- Tuition and course materials
- Airfare to and from the training location
- Lodging during the five-week program
- A daily stipend throughout training
Participants receive a conditional job offer from a Meta contractor partner before training even begins. Graduates are not contractually obligated to remain with Meta — the NCCER credential travels with you to any employer, anywhere in the country.
Where Training Takes Place
The 2026 pilot training centers are located in:
- Baton Rouge, Louisiana
- Houston, Texas
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- Columbus, Ohio
Houston — the nearest pilot city to northeastern Oklahoma — is approximately a seven-hour drive. Because Meta covers airfare and lodging, distance is not a barrier. Oklahomans are eligible to apply and will be flown to their assigned training site at no cost.
The Tulsa Connection
This opportunity is directly tied to a major construction project underway in our region. Meta broke ground in April 2026 on a $1 billion AI data center in east Tulsa — the company’s first in Oklahoma and 28th in the United States. At peak construction, that single project is projected to employ more than 1,000 trade workers. AWA is the pipeline designed to build that workforce — and Cherokee citizens can be part of it.
Who Can Apply
The program is open to any person who is of legal working age, eligible to work in the United States, and willing to complete full-time, five-week training. No construction background is required. AWA specifically encourages applications from veterans, career changers, women, and individuals who have historically faced barriers to trades careers.
How to Sign Up
Applications are not yet open, but a waitlist signup is currently live. To join the waitlist, visit: https://cbreglobal.avature.net/AmericasWorkforceAcademyForm
For questions about the program or partnership opportunities, contact Meta’s AWA team at [email protected].
Cherokee411.com will continue to monitor AWA application openings and report when enrollment begins. Share this announcement with Cherokee citizens who may benefit.
Background URLS:
https://journalrecord.com/2026/06/22/meta-invests-115m-workforce-training-skilled-trades/
