Dallas Fort Worth International Airport and the Dallas County Community College District are partnering on a new apprenticeship program aimed at promoting internal growth and sustainability of skilled workers in construction and maintenance.

At least seven airport employees will participate in the pilot program, the first of its kind in Texas to be registered with the U.S. Department of Labor.

The classes will be taught at DFW Airport for free, while the training will be conducted by a qualified Dallas County Community College District faculty member.

The program is expected to begin in the fall with certification training that will take a year for participants to complete.

The goal of the new apprenticeship program is to create internal growth and a sustainable skilled workforce in the construction and maintenance industry through this Facility Manager/Facilities Services Supervisor training.

“We are focused on growing our workforce development efforts and on creating more job opportunities for Dallas County residents with partners like DFW Airport. This apprenticeship agreement, which focuses on the construction and maintenance industry, is a win-win situation for our students, business and the community,” Dr. Joe May, DCCCD’s chancellor, said in a statement.

This apprenticeship program will be joining others that are already in North Texas including for culinary arts, plumbing and pipe-fitting, and electrical technology.

“DFW continues to invest in new learning and development opportunities that enable our employees to grow their careers at the Airport,” Linda Valdez Thompson, DFW’s executive vice president of Administration and Diversity, said. “This partnership with DCCCD will allow our employees to enhance their professional skills and will build a stronger, more skilled DFW Airport workforce.”