COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX) — Meta has selected the city of Columbus as one of four cities to host their new workforce program, America’s Workforce Academy (AWA).

The academy will prepare students for careers in skilled trades. Participants will be trained at no cost and have guaranteed job placement upon completion of the program.

Other locations include Indianapolis, Indiana, Houston, Texas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Meta made an initial investment of $115 million and credits the enormous demand for the creation of the academy. More than 30,000 applications poured in during the first week.

The academy is open to qualified veterans, recent graduates, and others interested in trades throughout the U.S. No prior experience is necessary and Meta will absorb all costs, including tuition, airfare, lodging and a daily stipend.

Participants will receive training in fiber installation, welding, AI infrastructure, power generation, grid modernization and more.

“The AI revolution is bringing change but also historic opportunities. Skilled workers electrified rural America one pole at a time. They manned the factories that built the arsenal that won World War II. Now a new generation will pour the foundations and lay the fiber that secures American strength in this new age,” Dina Powell McCormick, Meta President and Vice-Chairman said.

Read more and sign up for America’s Workforce Academy here.