Delta CEO Ed Bastian joined Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and other civic and corporate leaders Monday at a press conference announcing the establishment of the Center for Workforce Innovation, a jobs training program focused on outcomes-based education for high-demand careers. 

Delta is a sponsor of the program, alongside The Home Depot, SunTrust, Intercontinental Exchange, and Georgia Power, with additional support from McKinsey & Co. and other Atlanta-based institutions.

“Investing in the communities where we live, work and serve is part of our DNA at Delta, and the Center for Workforce Innovation is a great opportunity to prepare students for the highly skilled jobs Atlanta companies need to compete in the global environment,” Bastian said. He added Delta will be hiring 25,000 new people over the next several years for a broad range of jobs across the company.

The sponsors have invested $2 million initially into the effort to pilot three career tracks including aircraft technical skills, information technology and skilled trades such as carpentry and electrical construction and maintenance.