Compass Datacenters and Meridian Community College are launching a 14-week MEI Data Center Pathway Program to train skil

Compass Datacenters and Meridian Community College announced the launch of the Mechanical, Electrical and Information Technology Data Center Pathway Program on July 31, 2026, marking the initiative with a two-day event and career fair at MCC's Riley Workforce Development Center ahead of the inaugural class beginning in fall 2026. The program creates a talent pipeline for residents across Mississippi to fill critical gaps in the data center industry, which faces a shortfall of more than 500,000 skilled trade professionals annually.

The 14-week program requires no prior degree or experience and provides hands-on training on the same equipment used in modern data centers. Compass is funding full-tuition scholarships for the inaugural cohort to remove financial barriers. The curriculum prepares students for roles in electrical, mechanical, and IT infrastructure operations across the data center industry. As Compass CEO Chris Crosby stated, "When we build in a community, we commit to it for the long haul. We aren't just building data centers in Meridian. We're helping create a workforce that will support them for decades to come."

The program is open to any company needing skilled technicians, and Compass customers, suppliers, service providers and competitors are welcome to participate and recruit graduates. The MEI Pathway program was originally founded by Compass in Red Oak, Texas and is now in its second year, with the waitlisted program already expanding to Texas State Technical College's Waco and Abilene campuses. Texas graduates have been placed with companies including CBRE, Schneider Electric, Siemens and Salute, with many earning 30 to 50 percent above local median salaries.

Upon completion, Compass Datacenters' Meridian campus will represent an estimated 10 billion dollar investment, including future tenant equipment. As a Class A, Community-First developer, Compass is committed to ensuring the economic benefits of data center development extend to the community through generational jobs, workforce training, and community partnerships. Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves noted that "workforce development is how we keep that momentum going" in the state's competition for future jobs.