CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Over the weekend, Tesla announced on X, formerly Twitter, that it fed raw material through it's lithium refinery just outside of Robstown for the very first time.
Construction is ongoing at the site off Highway 77 and the plant is expected to provide 250 permanent full-time jobs.
A partnership between the company and Robstown Early College High School could lead students to one day help fill those roles.
Instructors are preparing students for the workforce at the school.
For some, it's earning their industry based certifications.
Career and Technology Education coordinator Benito Portillo said the new partnership with Tesla will create an opportunity to keep students close to home versus leaving for a job out of the area.
"Just having this company so close to us where they are in need of some of the skill sets that our students have acquired here at school it's a great opportunity for them," he said.
You can see the construction on the multimillion dollar lithium refining facility off Highway 77 first hand as you drive by. The company held a groundbreaking ceremony a year and a half ago.
The CTE program already offering students 12 different programs including instrumentation and process technology.
Lisa Spivey is the director of Robstown Early College and said students are excited.
"Immediately we're getting emails, 'How can I become part of this? What can I do so that I can sit down and be part of this process,' " she said.
The partnership comes as the campus transitions into a P-TECH school.
"Always offered duel credit courses, early college to our students, now we're going to be adding in those additional pathways in technology," Spivey said.
And hopefully get a foot in the door with the refinery.
"We have programs here on campus in place that will directly create a pipeline of skilled workers that Tesla can one day hopefully hire," she said.
She said culinary students have already visited the site to provide lunch during an event at the plant.
Spivey hopes the new partnership leads to more.
"Hopefully some internships or job shadowing opportunities," she said.
County Commissioner John Marez said the entire county will benefit from the partnership.
"Anytime you can be attached to a company like that it's a home run," he said. "We're excited about the partnership. Everywhere I go you see that attachment between the school and Tesla and we know they're going beyond Robstown High School as well," he said.