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Made in Texas.
This phrase isn’t just about the products made here; it’s about the workforce behind it all. Welders, technicians, factory workers, engineers – the people comprising Texas’s manufacturing industry are what power it. And right now, investing in a ready-to-work base of workers is what will ensure a bright outlook for the industry.
On Thursday, Governor Greg Abbott, a vocal advocate for Texas’s manufacturing industry, who himself has touted the phrase “Made in Texas,” joined leadership from Caterpillar Inc., the world’s largest manufacturer of heavy machinery, to announce the launch of the company’s workforce commitment in the Lone Star State, with an allocation of up to $5 million to equip current and future workers for the high-tech advanced manufacturing and industry technician jobs of the future.
Caterpillar’s Texas ties go back. A presence in the state since the 1960s, the company relocated its headquarters to Irving in 2022. The Irving facility is just one of Caterpillar’s seventeen Texas facilities, all together employing 6,630 people.
The investment in Texas is part of Caterpillar’s larger five year $100 million Building the Future Workforce Initiative – a global pledge made in April 2025 in conjunction with the company’s centennial celebration. The initiative aims to help equip the workforce of the future with the skills they need, while leveraging technology to meet global market demands during this age of rapid digital transformation.
In addition to Texas, Caterpillar has announced funding in Indiana and a five-year, $25 million innovation challenge offering up to $5 million in awards in year one to top ideas that can attract, retain and upskill the manufacturing and technician workforce.
“Caterpillar believes building a strong workforce starts with investing in people and helping them develop the skills needed to be successful,” said Christy Pambianchi, Caterpillar’s chief human resources officer. “Texas is a manufacturing powerhouse and a vital hub for innovation. Through this pledge, we’re capitalizing on those strengths and preparing Texans for the jobs of today and the advanced technology and manufacturing careers of tomorrow.”
The initiative takes a localized approach to ensure alignment with the needs of the community. Caterpillar is engaging with leading community-based academic institutions, technical colleges, chambers of commerce and economic and workforce development boards across the state to support sustainability and a place-based approach.
In Texas, the second state to receive funding, the manufacturing giant is teaming up with Texas State Technical College (TSTC), Seguin Economic Development Corporation (Seguin EDC) and The Texas Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education Lone Star Chapter (Lone Star FAME), among others. Through these collaborations, Caterpillar aims to support high school bridge programs, create manufacturing career and technical education (CTE) pathways, and define future skills needs and pilot training.
“Caterpillar's collaboration with TSTC reflects something we've believed for a long time: the future of American manufacturing depends on closing the talent gap,” TSTC Chancellor Michael L. Reeser said.
SPONSORED BY caterpillar inc.
Michael L. Reeser
TSTC Chancellor
Sponsored by Caterpillar Inc.
An Investment in Texas to Drive Manufacturing Forward
“Our students don't just earn credentials, they step into careers that change the trajectory of their families. That's only possible when world-class companies that comprehend the full industry landscape, like Caterpillar does, come to the table.”
By Sydni Silverstone on July 3, 2026
After Thursday’s announcement, Steve Ferguson, Caterpillar’s Senior Vice President of the Industrial Power Systems Division, provided a tour of the manufacturing giant's Seguin location – a 1.7-million-square-foot, high-tech engine facility.
“I’ve been with Caterpillar for over three decades and have seen manufacturing evolve firsthand,” Ferguson said. “Our success starts with the skilled workforce we have here in Texas—people who bring expertise, innovation, and pride to their work every day. By investing in people and the next generation of talent, we’re building a stronger future for manufacturing.”
As the nation celebrates its 250th anniversary, the timing of this announcement underscores a shared legacy of resilience and reinvention. Like the United States, Caterpillar has been built on grit, skill and determination but what defines both is a relentless drive to innovate. From advancing technologies to reimagining how work gets done, innovation is essential to building the infrastructure that will support the workforce of tomorrow.
As industries evolve, Caterpillar is not only embracing that future, but also actively investing in the skills and systems needed to meet demand, leveraging Texas’s strength as a manufacturing and innovation hub to help shape the future workforce.
