Nearly a year after its inception, the Mountain View Hospitality Academy, a free six-week training program operated by Fort Davis-based nonprofit Mobile Comunidad, reports enrolling fewer than five participants. According to the Big Bend Sentinel, which first reported on the low enrollment, the academy was created to address labor shortages in the Trans-Pecos region’s tourism industry. Despite extensive advertising and recruitment efforts, the program has struggled to attract participants.
The academy was promoted through newspaper ads, radio spots, career fairs, and high school outreach across the region, with partners including Workforce Solutions Borderplex. Participants are promised certification and guaranteed job interviews with local employers. However, the specifics of the funding supporting these recruitment efforts remain unclear. Attempts by Big Bend Times to inquire about Mobile Comunidad’s financials have been met with resistance, as the nonprofit has previously responded to similar questions with legal threats, leaving financial transparency a lingering concern.
As the program’s effectiveness comes under scrutiny due to low enrollment, questions remain about how resources for this initiative are managed. For more details on the Big Bend Sentinel‘s report, read their full article here.
