ANNOUNCEMENT

Texas Future Builders launches with Gov. Abbott and Larry Fink

May 06, 2026
  • BlackRock
Larry Fink and Texas Governor, Greg Abbot, shaking hands at the Texas Future Builders event.

On May 6, Texas State Technical College (TSTC) and BlackRock convened public and private sector leaders at the college’s flagship campus in Waco for an event on National Skilled Trades Day.

At the event, Texas Governor Greg Abbott and BlackRock Chairman and CEO Larry Fink announced a $30 million philanthropic investment in Texas through BlackRock Future Builders, a national initiative funded by The BlackRock Foundation to strengthen skilled trades pipelines across the country. Over three years, the funding will help train more than 12,000 Texans for electrical careers, strengthening the workforce needed to support the state’s continued growth. The conversation, moderated by Texas Workforce Commission Chairman Joe Esparza, discussed the role of education, employers, and labor in supporting Texas’ growth.

“I want to thank Larry Fink and BlackRock for what they’re doing. It’s a tremendous investment. It’s also an acknowledgement about how important the workforce and training the workforce is to our country and to our state,” said Governor Abbott on stage.

Governor Greg Abbott:
I want to thank Larry Fink and BlackRock for what they're doing. It's a tremendous investment. It's also an acknowledgment about how important the workforce and training the workforce is to our country and to our state.

Electricians alone, I hear we need something like 10,000 of them, in the state of Texas as we speak right now, even more in the future.

Larry Fink:
What I heard from the governor is music to my ears. We are one of the largest infrastructure investors in Texas.

We hear in every project, we don't have enough workers. And it was very clear to us that we needed to think about, not just investing in projects, we now needed to find ways to invest in people and their own personal growth.

And what's so exciting about Future Builders, we're investing in young people who are just thinking about where should they go? Should they even go to a four year university or not? What is the pros and cons on that?

And as the governor was talking about in welders and the shortage in electricians, I hear that in every state. Our job is making sure that we are building prosperity and dignity for more Americans and more people in the world. And by broadening economic success for more Americans, we're going to build greater dignity and hope for more people in this country.

Governor Greg Abbott:
I want to thank Larry Fink and BlackRock for what they're doing. It's a tremendous investment. It's also an acknowledgment about how important the workforce and training the workforce is to our country and to our state.

Electricians alone, I hear we need something like 10,000 of them, in the state of Texas as we speak right now, even more in the future.

Larry Fink:
What I heard from the governor is music to my ears. We are one of the largest infrastructure investors in Texas.

We hear in every project, we don't have enough workers. And it was very clear to us that we needed to think about, not just investing in projects, we now needed to find ways to invest in people and their own personal growth.

And what's so exciting about Future Builders, we're investing in young people who are just thinking about where should they go? Should they even go to a four year university or not? What is the pros and cons on that?

And as the governor was talking about in welders and the shortage in electricians, I hear that in every state. Our job is making sure that we are building prosperity and dignity for more Americans and more people in the world. And by broadening economic success for more Americans, we're going to build greater dignity and hope for more people in this country.