Arkansas Tech University–Ozark Campus and Serverfarm announced a new workforce partnership on Wednesday, Nov. 11, that will help prepare Arkansans for careers in data centers and other critical facility operations, including at the types of roles that will be needed at the data center campus being built in Clarksville.
The 180-hour critical facilities training program will begin in January 2027.
Education, industry and state leaders unveiled the program during a roundtable at ATU-Ozark’s recently expanded and renovated skilled trades building.
Speakers included Dr. Russell Jones, ATU president; Dr. Sheila R. Jacobs, ATU-Ozark chancellor; Avner Papouchado, chief executive officer of Serverfarm, Maria Rodriguez, chief people officer of Serverfarm; Mike Whitman, vice president of operations for North America at Serverfarm; State Representative Aaron Pilkington, Arkansas District 45; Chase Carter, assistant superintendent for the Clarksville School District; and Milton Corbitt and Ashton Millsap, ATU-Ozark students.
“At ATU-Ozark, our mission is to provide accessible, high-quality education that connects students directly to meaningful career opportunities while meeting the workforce needs of the communities we serve,” said Jacobs. “Our partnership with Serverfarm is an excellent example of that mission in action. What makes this partnership especially exciting is our commitment to build upon this training to establish an associate degree pathway that will continue to meet the needs of students and strengthen our local workforce. I am especially grateful to work with a team of people who are flexible and willing to do what it takes to meet industry needs and serve students.”
Serverfarm will help shape the curriculum around real-world job requirements related to uninterruptible power and cooling systems, while ATU-Ozark will deliver the instruction. The program combines 128 hours of supervised, hands-on lab and simulation training with 52 hours of classroom instruction in electrical power, cooling and refrigeration, backup systems, controls and maintenance.
The training is the first step toward a proposed two-year associate degree in critical facilities technology, which is anticipated to launch in fall 2027.
“When we choose to build in a community, we want the people who live there to build their careers with us,” said Papouchado. “Our Clarksville campus will bring 2,000 construction jobs and 200 permanent, high-paying jobs to the river valley. Partnering with ATU-Ozark means Arkansans can gain the skills to fill those roles without leaving home, and it reflects our long-term commitment to this region.”
The program requires no prior data center experience and is open to both new job seekers and current workers looking to build facilities skills. The first cohort is expected to include 12-to-15 students. For eligible participants, Arkansas Workforce Challenge Scholarship funds will cover the cost of training, and ATU-Ozark staff are available to help with the application.
“Every data center we operate depends on technicians who know how to keep power and cooling running around the clock,” said Mike Whitman, vice president of operations, North America at Serverfarm. “We worked side by side with ATU-Ozark to translate what our facilities actually require into a curriculum, and to make sure students train on the same kinds of equipment they would find inside a working data center. We want our operations staff to come from the communities around us, and this program gives local residents a direct path into those careers.”
The partnership with ATU-Ozark builds on Serverfarm’s broader investment in the community. The company recently donated $150,000 to the Clarksville School District to support free student meals, teacher classroom grants and improving athletic facilities.
