As businesses grow and industries change, local education leaders say Collin County’s next competitive advantage depends on helping students explore career paths early and train close to home
As new companies and industries continue to expand into Collin County, local leaders emphasize that the region’s next competitive edge relies heavily on the classroom. Behind every corporate relocation, hospital expansion and startup is a question that will shape the region’s future: Who will do the work?
As the county continues to grow, workforce development and economic development are part of the same story. Businesses need skilled workers, students need affordable pathways and the region needs a talent pipeline strong enough to support what comes next.
The story is part of Collin County Celebrates, a countywide initiative launched by the Collin County Business Alliance in honor of its 15th anniversary and the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Opportunity Close To Home
For H. Neil Matkin, Ed.D., Collin College District President, one of the biggest wins for Collin County students and workers has been expanding access to education.
“I’ve had the absolute honor of serving as district president for the last 11 years and in this time, I’m most proud of creating opportunities for students to complete high-quality degrees and workforce certifications close to home at a fraction of the cost,” Dr. Matkin says.
This local access is a game-changer for students who are trying to balance ambition with affordability. Dr. Matkin says partnerships with local companies and universities have helped students co-enroll, pursue degrees and certifications and save thousands of dollars on tuition, housing and transportation costs.
Dual credit courses have also become a major part of the equation. Dr. Matkin says Collin College’s Dual Credit program, which represents nearly 25% of the college’s total enrollment, allows more students to earn associate degrees before they graduate high school.
A Pipeline Built With Business
Missy Bender, Executive Director of theTexas School Coalition, says Collin County’s approach to education and workforce strategy has evolved alongside the region’s business growth.
As the area moved from an agricultural community into a premier North Texas business hub, the demand for more workers with specialized, technical and professional skills has reshaped how local schools, higher education institutions and workforce partnerships operate today.
A catalyst for this shift has been the relocation and expansion of corporate headquarters in the county. Bender says many companies choose the region because of access to a highly educated and continually developing talent pipeline. But employers are not just benefiting from that pipeline. They are helping strengthen it.
Businesses are actively engaged with local school districts and higher education institutions through hands-on learning experience, curriculum input and direct mentorship. Many also invest in upskilling and reskilling programs to prepare the local workforce for high-demand careers in fields such as technology, healthcare, finance and advanced manufacturing.
“Ultimately, Collin County’s success reflects a mutually reinforcing cycle: business growth drives the need for talent, and a strong, business-informed education pipeline continues to attract new employers,” Bender says.
Photo: Collin College
Listening To Employers
Matkin says Collin College’s commitment to workforce education has been a key focus over the last decade. The college has developed and expanded programs through conversations with local employers and industry leaders to help ensure students graduate with skills that lead directly to high-demand careers.
This collaboration spans the region’s core economic drivers, including healthcare, technology, manufacturing, construction and engineering. Matkin says the college works with industry leaders and business experts to listen, adapt and shape programs to address workforce gaps and future needs.
Collin College is also opening a new Health Sciences Center at its Frisco Campus in Spring 2027 as a direct response to the growing demand for healthcare professionals in the county. The three-story, $70 million facility will utilize advanced medical simulation technology to train incoming waves of nursing, sonography and allied health professionals.
That kind of responsiveness is critical as the county continues to grow. Local education leaders are not only preparing students for the jobs that exist today. They are trying to anticipate the workforce needs of the future.
The Skills That Set Students Apart
Bender encourages students to explore their interests and test out different paths in a safe space.
“Invest in yourself early by taking the time to explore your interests while you’re still in high school,” Bender says.
Through career and technical education programs, internships, extracurricular activities and dual-credit courses, high school offers a unique window where students can uncover what they want to do before the pressure and risk become greater later in life.
However, technical skills are only part of the equation. Bender also emphasizes the importance of durable skills, such as communication, teamwork and the ability to receive and apply feedback. “These are the skills that translate across any career path and often set individuals apart in the workplace,” she says.
Ultimately, her message to students is both practical and encouraging: you don’t need your entire life planned by graduation day.“You don’t have to have everything figured out,” Bender says. “But being intentional about exploring what excites you and building your academic, technical and interpersonal skills along the way is one of the most valuable investments you can make in yourself.”
Photo: Collin College
The Next Competitive Advantage
Collin County’s success reflects a cycle that continues to reinforce itself: business growth drives the need for talent, a strong education pipeline attracts new employers and local students gain pathways into high-demand careers without having to leave home.
Higher education plays a vital role in this cycle. Dr. Matkin highlights how Collin College generates more than $1 billion in added income for the county each year and supports more than 12,511 jobs annually, much of it through graduates entering the workforce.
Education is not just a benefit for individual students, but critical infrastructure for the entire region.
If Collin County intends to remain an economic powerhouse, it will need more than new buildings and corporate campuses. It will take intentional investment in the people required to lead, design and solve the complex problems of tomorrow.
The county’s next chapter depends on the next generation seeing their future here — and on the region’s ability to keep building the pathways to help them reach it.
About Collin County Celebrates
This story is part of Collin County Celebrates, a countywide initiative launched by the Collin County Business Alliance (CCBA) in honor of its 15th anniversary and the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Established in 2011, the CCBA is composed of business leaders who believe they have a responsibility to act now to shape our vibrant community, serving as a catalyst to address key issues such as water, workforce development and mobility.
The initiative includes a signature speaker series, a legacy project and a countywide celebration designed to strengthen the local fabric of Collin County, unite the community and showcase the region’s leadership, civic spirit and future possibilities.
Learn more about Collin County Celebrates and join the celebration.