How Pathway2Careers Helped a Rural District Build a Community-Led Technical Training Center

Responding to Economic Disruption with a New Vision for Workforce Development

What role can educators play in economic revival for a community? In Farmington, New Mexico, that question isn’t theoretical; it’s urgent.

Following the closure of a major power plant, the region experienced significant job loss and population decline as families left the area. At the same time, local employers continued to report strong demand for skilled workers in high-wage, high-growth industries across construction, healthcare, and energy.

In response, the Farmington Municipal School District set out to design a new Career and Technical Education (CTE) training center that would align education with regional workforce needs and create clear pathways into sustainable careers upon high school graduation.

Rather than designing the initiative internally, district leadership prioritized a community-led process to ensure the center reflected real workforce demand and could be sustained through employer partnership.

To support this effort, Director of College and Career Readiness Milo McMinn partnered with Pathway2Careers (P2C) to facilitate a structured planning process grounded in labor market data, employer input, and cross-sector collaboration.

“We need to use labor market data more now than ever, because the economy demands it, and making a good wage is the goal and dream for students and their families. If we can put kids on those trajectories, it’s truly life-changing for them.”

— Milo McMinn, Director of College and Career Readiness, Farmington Municipal School District

Designing a Data-Informed, Community-Driven Process

P2C worked with district leadership to structure a planning process built around three integrated inputs:

regional labor market and demographic data

employer workforce needs and skill requirements

cross-sector stakeholder engagement

Rather than presenting data as a static report, the approach focused on making information usable for decision-making across education, industry, and government stakeholders.

Farmington convened a broad group of partners for the first session, including employers, economic development leaders, city and county officials, school board members, and district administrators.

The P2C team presented labor market insights alongside regional demographic trends and employer feedback, helping participants identify where workforce gaps existed and which sectors were positioned for long-term growth.

From there, P2C facilitated structured discussions designed to move stakeholders from shared understanding of the data to shared ownership of solutions.

“Pathway2Careers has made my job so much easier and allowed for innovation and advancement much quicker.”

— Milo McMinn

From Labor Market Insight to a Shared Community Vision

By the end of the first convening, stakeholders aligned on a shared vision for the Farmington Technical Center:

A regional hub for talent development that prepares students for high-demand careers through industry-aligned instruction, hands-on learning, and credential-based pathways.

Key design priorities included:

programs aligned to high-demand regional industries

industry-recognized credentials embedded into curriculum

meaningful work-based learning experiences

direct employer involvement in program design and delivery

development of both technical and employability skills

The vision also emphasized long-term economic sustainability, including positioning the center as a potential school-based enterprise that could generate value for continued program growth.

Turning Alignment into Action Through Iterative Convenings

Two months later, stakeholders reconvened to refine the model and move toward implementation.

Between sessions, the district advanced early planning work to repurpose an underutilized facility as the future home of the technical center. Participants toured the space and reviewed early design concepts, grounding the conversation in real constraints and opportunities.

P2C then reintroduced updated labor market insights to validate earlier conclusions and reinforce alignment around priority industries.

The focus of the second convening shifted from vision-setting to operational design. Stakeholders worked across sectors to define how the center would function in practice, including:

how programs would be structured and delivered

how employers would engage in instruction and advising

how students would access work-based learning opportunities

how credentials would be embedded into learning pathways

This phase helped transform the initiative from a conceptual model into a shared implementation framework supported by multiple sectors.

Securing Investment and Defining Commitments

By the final convening of the first year, momentum had accelerated significantly.

The district announced it had secured a $1.2 million state grant to support implementation of the Farmington Technical Center. Architectural plans were also presented, giving stakeholders a concrete view of the facility’s development path.

With funding in place, the focus shifted to partner commitments and implementation readiness.

The P2C team facilitated a structured working session where stakeholders identified how their organizations could actively contribute to the center’s success.

By the end of the session, commitments included:

equipment and materials contributions

employer-supported work-based learning placements

employer participation in curriculum and program design

instructional and implementation support

These commitments ensured the initiative moved beyond planning into shared responsibility for execution.

Building a Sustainable Regional Talent System

With a clear implementation plan and a targeted opening timeline of Fall 2027, Farmington Municipal School District continues to partner with Pathway2Careers to support execution.

Current work includes the development of industry roundtables to refine workforce needs in priority sectors and expand structured work-based learning opportunities for students.

District leadership credits the process with strengthening alignment across education, industry, and government—and accelerating the community’s ability to move from planning to coordinated action.

“Working with Pathway2Careers, I know the product that comes out is going to be lightyears beyond what anyone locally has seen in facilitation, data, and economic insight.”

— Milo McMinn

As the initiative moves forward, Farmington’s Technical Center is positioned not only as a new educational program, but as a coordinated regional strategy to rebuild and sustain the local economy through aligned talent development.

Ready to Build Stronger Career Pathways in Your Community?

Whether you’re exploring a new CTE initiative, strengthening employer partnerships, or using Perkins funding to support workforce-aligned programming, P2C can help you move from vision to action.