Mental and Behavioral Health Counselors per Year Member Companies Investing in the Future of the Permian Basin
PreMed Graduates per Year
Teachers Currently Seeking National Board Certification
Physician’s Assistants per Year
Specialized STEM Teachers per Year Principal Incentive Allotment Programs Surgery and Sub-specialty Fellowships per Year
Social Work Graduates per Year
Connections with Permian Basin Veterans Career Technical Education High School
Family Medicine Residents per Year
Pieces of Equipment Distributed to First Responders
Public Charter School Campuses
Elementary Schools Equipped with STEM Centers
YEARS OF PROGRESS IN THE PERMIAN BASIN
Over the past five years, the Permian Strategic Partnership has directly invested $153 million into communities across the Permian Basin, contributing to collaborative investments that total $1.5 billion. Together with our partners, we have built schools, invested in teacher training, equipped first responders, advocated for road safety and infrastructure, provided scholarships and workforce education, and so much more.
We do it all because we recognize the great value of the Permian Basin—not only as the projected third-largest standalone oil play in the world, but as a pivotal contributor to the U.S. economy, national security, and energy independence. To protect national interests and ensure continued prosperity in the Permian, investments in education, healthcare, workforce development, and road safety are critical. By supporting the region’s growth and infrastructure, we have an opportunity to improve quality of life for residents and workers, build better futures for children, ensure our industry can attract and retain talented people, and deliver products to market.
As we celebrate our five-year anniversary, it is exciting to look back and see just how much our organization has accomplished since it was formed in 2018. We are grateful to each of our 29 members, and to our partners in the community. Together, we are making the Permian Basin an even better place to live and work—and this is just the beginning. As we embark on the next phase of our journey, we hope you will join us. We cannot wait to see what the future will bring.
Letter from our Chairman
In a world marked by escalating energy demands and geopolitical complexities, the significance of the Permian Basin as an energy hub cannot be overstated. To sustain our nation’s growth and prosperity, we must take a vested interest in the Permian Basin, given its pivotal role in our economy. In 2023 alone, the Permian contributed an impressive $30.4 billion in total taxes to New Mexico and Texas, directly funding essential statewide services. A sustained commitment to leveraging these public-private partnerships in the Permian Basin will solidify our country’s resilient and thriving economic success.
As we reflect on the last five years, the Permian Strategic Partnership has remained committed to addressing these challenges and improving the quality of life for residents in the Permian Basin. Through strategic investments totaling over $32 million in 2023, we have made significant strides in areas such as public education, healthcare, road safety and infrastructure, and workforce development, laying the foundation for sustainable, long-term solutions that benefit every community member.
As discussions surrounding energy security continue, we acknowledge the vital role played by the Permian Basin in meeting the world’s energy demands. To support the energy industry’s continued growth, we must continue to invest in our crucial region.
We are fortunate to have forged strong partnerships with organizations, both public and private, who all share our vision of success for the Permian Basin. Together, we are working to deliver on the Permian Promise and build a brighter future for the entire region.
As we look back on the remarkable progress we have made over the past five years, we are filled with optimism and determination for the journey ahead. The Permian Basin stands as a testament to the resilience and sustainability of our community, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure that its potential is fully realized. In the pursuit of this vision, the importance of continued public-private partnership cannot be overstated. I am confident that together, we will chart a course toward a future defined by prosperity, sustainability, and shared success.
Thank you for your support.
Don Evans Chairman, Permian Strategic Partnership
Letter from our President & CEO
As we celebrate our fifth year of collective progress and resilience, it is with immense pride and enthusiasm that I present to you our annual report for 2023. Together, over the past five years, we have remained steadfast in our commitment to the prosperity and sustainability of the Permian Basin, a region that stands as a beacon of strength and opportunity amid the evolving landscape of the global energy industry.
Since our founding, the Permian Strategic Partnership (PSP) has committed $153 million to our community and leveraged more than $1.5 billion in collaborative investments in education, workforce development, healthcare, and roads for the Permian Basin, enabling us to make significant strides in improving the well-being of our communities.
In 2023, the PSP dedicated millions of dollars toward behavioral health care, providing resources to strengthen the needed workforce and breaking ground on the Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center to bring top-quality treatment to the region. With continued growth come new transportation challenges – we invested in critical infrastructure projects to promote road safety in the area. We dedicated over $4 million in support for teachers to attain their National Board Certification, partnered with The Holdsworth Foundation to offer advanced leadership training, and helped bring a new Harmony Science Academy to Midland.
At the core of our organization’s mission lies the unwavering commitment of our member companies and university systems. Their dedication has propelled us to make significant progress toward a brighter future for the Permian Basin. It is with
great pride that I share that our membership has grown to 29 companies in our first five years, all dedicated to making the Permian Basin a premier place to live and work for its residents.
Over the next five years, our pledge to prioritize the future of the Permian Basin remains resolute. We recognize the importance of supporting the vibrant communities that define this region as a unique and thriving place to live and work. Through our collective efforts, we can cultivate a prosperous and sustainable future for all who call the Permian Basin home.
I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to our partners, stakeholders, and community leaders for their unwavering support. Your contributions have been instrumental in our collective success. Together, we can continue to meet the challenges ahead and create lasting changes and opportunities in communities across the Permian Basin.
We invite you to join us in this transformative work to ensure the Permian Basin remains equipped to meet the needs of the region, the nation, and the world. Together, we can shape a brighter future for generations to come.
Tracee Bentley President & CEO, Permian Strategic Partnership
Working Together for a Greater Impact
Investing in the Permian is the right thing to do, for the future of our industry, for the vitality of the region’s communities, and for the country. The members of the Permian Strategic Partnership (PSP) feel a social responsibility to give back to this region that has given jobs, energy security, and economic stability to the U.S.
$1.5
The Permian Strategic Partnership has directly invested approximately $153 million in Permian Basin projects and contributed to collaborative investments totaling more than $1.5 billion.
Billion
$16,500,000
$10,000,000
$7,500,000
$7,000,000
$12,800,000
$12,500,000
$5,900,000
$5,000,000
$3,500,000
$3,200,000
$1,100,000
$4,000,000
Looking back over the five years since the Permian Strategic Partnership was founded, one thing is clear: Our impact is not just about the investments we’ve made. It is also about the effect our partnership has had on our community. Together with our partners, we have opened schools, expanded access to healthcare, supported training for healthcare professionals and counselors, funded education leadership training, grown workforce programs, provided housing opportunities, improved road safety, and more. Here is an overview of what our partnership has accomplished in our five-year history:
1 Career Technical Education High School
2 Principal Incentive Allotment Programs
8 Public Charter School Campuses
8 Surgery and Sub-Specialty Fellowships per Year
10 Family Medicine Residents per Year
12 Physician Assistants per Year
15
Specialized STEM Teachers Trained per Year
20 Pre-K Teachers Trained per Year
33 Mental and Behavioral Health Counselors Graduates per Year
50 Social Work Graduates per Year
50 School Leaders in Principal Internship Programs
60 PreMed Graduates per Year
130 Registered Nurses Credentialed per Year
264 Connections with Permian Basin Veterans
134 Elementary Schools Equipped with STEM Centers
237 Teachers Currently Seeking National Board Certification
288 Pre-K 3 and Pre-K 4 Childcare Spots Created
+8,500 Pieces of Equipment Distributed to First Responders
Our members are committed to the communities that we serve.
1. Apache Corporation
BPX Energy
ChampionX
Chevron
Civitas Resources
ConocoPhillips
Coterra Energy
Devon Energy
Diamondback Energy
Endeavor Energy Resources
ExxonMobil
Halliburton
18. Occidental Petroleum 19. Ovintiv 20. Permian Resources 21. Pioneer Natural Resources 22. Plains All American Pipeline 23. Pro Petro 24. SLB 25. Targa Resources Corp. 26. The Texas Tech University System 27. The University of Texas System 28. WaterBridge Resources 29. Western Midstream
Our Mission
To strengthen and improve quality of life for Permian Basin residents by partnering with federal, state, and local leaders to develop and implement strategic plans that foster superior schools, quality healthcare, a trained workforce, safer roads, and affordable housing. The companies involved with the Permian Strategic Partnership bring people, expertise, resources, and leadership to develop solutions in partnership with local leaders and communities.
Since our founding, we have also worked to expand broadband access, and have helped spearhead a number of community-focused studies and campaigns.
Education is essential to economic prosperity, personal growth, and societal progress—and we know that when we focus on strengthening educational quality in the Permian Basin, the benefits will extend far beyond our local communities. Over the past five years, the Permian Strategic Partnership has invested in education initiatives across our region, with programs benefiting students, teachers, school leaders, and public education in Texas and New Mexico. We have opened new schools, funded STEM programming, provided leadership training, launched an energy-focused curriculum, and invested in National Board Teacher Certification. All of our efforts point toward the same goal: to improve student outcomes.
Education STRENGTHENING
Education
IN THE PERMIAN BASIN
A Bright IDEA for School Innovation
100%
COLLEGE BOUND
IDEA Public Schools Seniors for 13 Years
$16.5
Committed to Public Schools in Midland and Odessa MILLION
High-performing schools are a hallmark of healthy communities. That is why the Permian Strategic Partnership is committed to investing in school improvement. In 2020, we identified the need for a high-performing education charter partner to focus on closing achievement gaps and improving graduation rates. Our goal was to improve education outcomes for Permian students—especially those in schools with lower-than-average performance.
In 2019, the Permian Strategic Partnership committed $16.5 million to bring high-performing charter public schools to Midland and Odessa, part of a collective total of $55 million raised by local businesses, foundations, and individual partners. As a result of this collaborative effort, IDEA Travis Academy opened in August 2020. The Midland, Texas, school revitalized an existing campus that was underperforming and had a high rate of teacher turnover. Since reopening as IDEA Travis Academy, the school has made drastic improvements in student achievement.
A second charter campus, IDEA Yukon in Odessa, broke ground on April 1, 2020, and has been one of the highest-performing campuses in the IDEA Schools network.
IDEA Travis really gives kids that are mislabeled the chance to shine and restore their passion to learn. My son was lost, and IDEA Travis provided him with the fuel to keep learning over the summer on his own. This says a lot about how much this school cares about our children.
JAZMINE P. / PARENT OF 4TH GRADE IDEA TRAVIS STUDENT
Establishing a New STEM School for Midland Students
Every year, public schools in the Permian Basin educate thousands of students, preparing them for success in their careers and in life. Schools have the power to impact lives and help students reach their potential—but underperforming schools place an unnecessary roadblock on students’ paths to success. To help address the need for additional high-quality schools in our region, the Permian Strategic Partnership, along with the Scharbauer Foundation and the Abell-Hanger Foundation, have invested $15.7 million to expand the Harmony Public School system in the Permian Basin. The investment, which was funded in 2023, will help address the critical need for high-quality education in our community by establishing the Midland Harmony Science Academy and expanding access to a Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM)-based education.
Ensuring equitable access to quality education is our shared responsibility. The initiative to establish Harmony Science Academy in Midland signifies a commitment to nurturing young minds and preparing them for a future driven by STEM fields.
FATIH AY / CEO, HARMONY PUBLIC SCHOOLS
As world energy demand grows, so too does the need for access to superior Pre-K-12 education in the Permian Basin, not only to grow our own workforce but to attract talented people from across the country whose children will attend school in the region. By investing in public education, the Permian Strategic Partnership is investing in the long-term prosperity of the Permian Basin.
Midland Harmony Science Academy will initially offer 250 seats for grades Pre-K through 5th, and will expand enrollment to 1,500 Pre-K through 12th grade students over the next decade. Harmony Public Schools is a tuition-free system of 61 public charter schools in Texas that provide rigorous, high-quality education focused on STEM. Groundbreaking for the Midland Harmony Science Academy took place in April of 2024, and the school is expected to open in the Fall of 2024 in temporary classroom space while construction is underway. Construction is anticipated to be completed for a Fall 2025 grand opening.
$7
PSP Investment to Expand the Harmony Public School System in the Permian Basin MILLION
250 Students Will Be Served by Harmony Science Academy on Opening STUDENTS
1,500
Over the Next Decade, Enrollment Will Be Expanded to 1,500 Students in Grades Pre-K–12
$10
Investing in Early Childhood Education and Teacher Training
Early childhood education provides a foundation for academic success—but with a shortage of programs and teachers, it is challenging to provide the resources young students need. That is why the Permian Strategic Partnership invested in the construction of the Midland College Pre-K Academy and Center for Teaching Excellence, a project which began in 2021. The school opened in the fall of 2023.
The PSP committed $10,000,000 to support the ~$30,000,000 total initiative. The investment provides professional development for teachers through its Center for Teaching Excellence, and helped to expand preschool programming through the Midland College Pre-K Academy, a partnership school established in collaboration with Midland Independent School District in 2018. The school currently serves 185 students and can accommodate up to 300 students for the fall 2024 school year.
Committed to Support for Professional Development of Early Childhood Education
UP TO
300
Students Will Have Access to Pre-K Education MILLION
The Center for Teaching Excellence is also home to Midland College’s Early Childhood Education Bachelor’s Degree program. With strong scholarship support, this program has enabled many students to complete the degree with little to no debt. The program also provides dual credit courses in Teaching and Education for high school students.
Midland College is more than an educational institution. We are an integral part of the communities we serve, pivotal to the future of our region. The Midland College Pre-K Academy and Center for Teaching Excellence provides high-quality early childhood education opportunities, bringing more qualified teachers to our schools. With partners like the PSP and the Scharbauer Foundation, there are no issues too big to resolve.
DR. DAMON KENNEDY / PRESIDENT, MIDLAND COLLEGE
A Home Run for STEM
Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) careers are in high demand in the Permian Basin and across the U.S. These fields are essential to the future of the energy industry—and to the future of our young people. That is why the Permian Strategic Partnership is committed to investing in STEM education. In 2022, we teamed up with the Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation to provide 134 elementary schools in the Permian with fully-equipped STEM Centers, reaching over 60,000 students and 2,000 teachers in 22 counties. The Permian Strategic Partnership contributed $7.5 million to the project.
Each Center is equipped with state-of-the-art STEM educational products, technology, furniture, and more, including a 3D printer, programmable classroom robot, coding robot, and electronic circuit-building sets. The first 50 STEM Centers were installed in 2022. By the end of 2024, all public elementary schools in the Permian Basin will have access to a new STEM Center. The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation staff currently provides training for teachers to deliver a weekly, yearround STEM program with custom-designed STEM lessons, educational products, and technology to enhance the tools provided in the STEM Centers. Teacher training began in 2022 and will continue until 2026.
The Permian Strategic Partnership is a terrific partner with us, and we are grateful for their tremendous support. 134 elementary schools in the Permian Basin receiving state-ofthe-art STEM Centers is exciting and will make such a difference in these communities. STEM has become an integral part of our work and we will only continue to do more in this space, working with dedicated organizations like PSP.
CAL
RIPKEN, JR.
The Cal Ripken, Sr. Foundation is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2001 to honor the legend and spirit of Cal Ripken, Sr. Focused on the values that Cal, Sr. embodied as a devoted coach and mentor, the organization has opened 465 STEM Centers nationwide. Among its other programs, the organization helps strengthen America’s most underserved communities by supporting and advocating for children. By investing in STEM education, the Permian Strategic Partnership seeks to inspire local students to explore STEM concepts and develop the problemsolving skills needed for lifelong success.
$7.5
Contributed to Bring STEM Education to the Permian Basin MILLION
134
Upgraded to Fully Equipped STEM Centers ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS
60
Students Will Now Have Access to a STEM Education THOUSAND
More Permian Teachers Pursue National Board Certification
Enrolled in Board Certification Programs Across 10 Counties in West Texas and Southeast New Mexico
Board-Certified Teachers can have a significant impact on a student’s learning—and now, the Permian has over 237 teachers enrolled in Board Certification Programs across 10 counties in West Texas and Southeast New Mexico. Thirty-one have completed all four components of the certification program. National Board Certification is on the rise for educators in Texas and New Mexico, bolstered by support from the Permian Strategic Partnership, the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and the New Mexico National Board Certified Teacher Network. Considered the gold standard for teacher certification, National Board Certification is a voluntary, advanced professional certification for prekindergarten through 12th-grade educators.
Pledged to Provide Support for Teachers in Texas and New Mexico MILLION
In 2020, the Permian Strategic Partnership pledged to provide nearly $4 million to support certification of teachers in Texas and New Mexico, in partnership with the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and the New Mexico National Board Certified Teacher Network. We made this commitment because we believe in the power of education—for students and teachers. More than a decade of research confirms that students taught by Board-Certified teachers learn more than students taught by other teachers. Teachers benefit, too. When Texas educators become Board-Certified, they qualify for Teacher Incentive Allotment funds, leading to higher overall salaries, and in New Mexico, teachers can earn a salary differential based on available funds.
The program launched with a focus on Eddy and Lea counties in New Mexico and Ector County in Texas. In 2022, it was expanded to cover Midland and Pecos school districts, and is now available to all districts in the Permian Basin. A key goal of the initiative is to encourage more teachers in the Permian to pursue certification. So far, it has done exactly that. We hope to see many more teachers enroll in the program, expanding access to high-quality instruction across the region.
Building Tomorrow’s Workforce Through a Comprehensive Energy Curriculum
The energy industry is the number-one sector in the Permian Basin, yet in 2021, energy-focused programs were only offered in several West Texas high schools and in one Southeast New Mexico high school. To address the critical shortage of skilled professionals in the energy sector, and equip students with the knowledge and skills required for successful careers, the Permian Strategic Partnership (PSP) launched Energy Pathways, a comprehensive energy curriculum and resource program, in 2022.
To support Energy Pathways, PSP committed to an investment of $4,525,000, with funds rolled out over a three-year period. The Energy Pathways curriculum is available to all K-12 districts in the 22 counties that make up the Permian Basin, across West Texas and Southeast New Mexico.
The PSP conducted a District Survey to identify key areas of opportunity for the program. Results of the study highlighted a Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, work-based learning opportunities, and identifying and incentivizing credentials that could lead to good careers and wages. Based on this input, we held discussions with energy companies to identify job positions deemed critical to the Permian Industry, along with skills key to all positions.
Developed in coordination with the Education Partnership of the Permian Basin, the Southern Regional Education Board, PetroSkills, Pathful, and the Education Strategy Group, Energy Pathways offers a range of subjects, including the fundamentals of energy, oil and gas production, integrated systems applications, and practicums that provide hands-on experience. By building a workforce pipeline, the program aims to improve student achievement, generate interest in the energy industry, and enhance the economic vitality of the Permian Basin.
Participating schools and institutions received academic support, such as curriculum and teaching resources, blended learning opportunities, and industry connections for equipment training and work-based learning. Furthermore, the program includes marketing outreach to students and their parents. With Energy Pathways, the PSP hopes to ensure a sustainable future for the energy sector, while providing students with the tools they need to succeed.
$4.5
MILLION
Investment in Energy Education and Workforce Curriculum
22
Across West Texas and Southeast New Mexico Will Have Access to the Energy Pathways Curriculum COUNTIES
5-Year Reflection
Before the Permian Strategic Partnership created its Energy Pathways Curriculum, only two out of the 48 high schools in the Permian Basin offered educational programs focused on the oil and gas industry. Today, our Energy Pathways curriculum is available to all K-12 districts in the 22 counties of the Permian Basin.
Will Participate in Holdsworth’s 2-Year Campus Leadership Program SCHOOL AND DISTRICT TEAMS
Building a Pipeline for Education Leadership
Great teachers, principals, and school leaders bring out the best in students and inspire them to achieve at high levels. However, leadership is not a quality we are born with—it is a skill that can be learned and improved through daily practice. To equip local public school leaders with the tools, skills, and top-tier training needed to improve education quality, the Permian Strategic Partnership and the Scharbauer Foundation partnered with The Holdsworth Center in 2023 to provide a $6.1 million investment in leadership training of public school officials across the region. The funding will be used to provide leadership training for principals, assistant principals, and district administrators, and build stronger talent development opportunities in the region’s largest school systems.
Investing in educational leadership is fundamental to securing a prosperous future for the Permian Basin, which has been straining to fill leadership positions in local schools. Growth in the Permian Basin has fueled major increases in student populations—but a shortage of teachers and school leaders is limiting educational opportunities for these students. By funding leadership training across the region, the Permian Strategic Partnership will help develop a new group of local leaders to serve our growing school districts.
The Holdsworth Center, a nonprofit education leadership development center that serves Texas public schools, is facilitating the training. The first cohort included leadership teams from 24 school and district teams in West Texas and Southeastern New Mexico, which enrolled 100 school leaders and teachers in Holdsworth’s 2-Year Campus Leadership Program. Participants are learning to strengthen their leadership muscles and identify new ways to tackle issues standing in the way of student success. Since its founding in 2017, The Holdsworth Center has served more than 1,500 educators in 75 public school districts. Of the 72 schools that completed the Campus Leadership Program in 2022-23, 90% made progress toward an ambitious student achievement goal. Three of the largest districts will also participate in the Holdsworth Leadership Collaborative, a program designed to help district leaders build a strong bench of aspiring principals ready to step into school leadership positions when they arise.
We don’t often attract this level of high-quality professional development to our area. This investment has the power to transform the caliber of leadership in our schools throughout the Permian Basin. It is going to raise the bar for leaders in our systems.
DR. SCOTT MURI / SUPERINTENDENT, ECTOR COUNTY ISD
100 School Leaders and Teachers Have Been Served by The Holdsworth Center
72 Schools Have Completed the Campus Leadership Program
$4.6 Investment in Leadership Training for Public School Officials
MILLION
Workforce
Over the past five years, we have supported workforce initiatives in many industries, including energy, electrical, technical and trade work, and healthcare. Highlights include funding construction of the new Hobbs Career and Technical Education Center, supporting veterans through the Permian Warrior Partnership, facilitating an electrical pre-apprenticeship program through Skillpoint Alliance, and introducing high school students to energy opportunities through a summer internship program.
Workforce BUILDING A PIPELINE FOR GROWTH IN
THE REGION
Making Career and Technical Education a Community Effort
Technical careers can provide dependable salaries, stable employment, and essential services to the community. So why do more students not pursue them? Career and technical education (CTE) enrollment has declined for decades—and as a result, many industries are experiencing worker shortages, while students are missing out on valuable opportunities. This is even more true in the Permian Basin, where technical workers are in high demand. To create new opportunities for local students and begin training the workforce of tomorrow, the Permian Strategic Partnership helped to fund the construction of a new career and technical high school in Hobbs, New Mexico.
The project kicked off in 2020 with a ~$10mm investment from the PSP, and construction of the school was completed in May of 2022. The Career and Technical Education Center (CTECH) complements Hobbs High School, which is nearing capacity and may soon exceed it. Approximately half of graduates from Hobbs pursue technical track careers,
either directly entering the workforce after high school or pursuing a two-year technical degree. The CTE facility enhances students’ skills and improves workforce preparedness by offering a range of programs, including construction, hospitality, STEM, oil and gas, information technology, manufacturing, and transportation. It also allows them to earn college credits and certifications while still in high school, through a dual credit program in partnership with New Mexico Junior College. By getting an early start on career training and college education, CTECH students are positioned for well-paying employment upon graduation.
Businesses also play a key role in the school, working with educators to develop curriculum in line with industry needs, and offering internships and training programs that expose students to real-world work environments. The Permian Strategic Partnership is proud to have contributed to this important development, which shows how much we can accomplish when we work together.
The programs of CTECH have continued to grow in popularity, and prove the validity of a career-relevant high school experience. This experience is not only valid but is what students are desiring and employees find beneficial, a prepared workforce. We look to continue the work across additional educational opportunities to provide career-based instruction in the course of a high school experience.
GENE STRICKLAND / SUPERINTENDENT, HOBBS MUNICIPAL SCHOOLS
$10 1/2 MILLION
In 2020, the Permian Strategic Partnership Committed $10 Million Toward the Construction of a New Career and Technical High School in Hobbs, New Mexico
Of All Graduates Pursue Technical Careers by Either Entering the Workforce or Enrolling in a Two-Year Technical Degree Program
Linking Veterans with Support and Resources
There are at least 20,000 veterans in the Permian Basin—and each one is a valued member of our community. Veterans bring many skills to the workforce that are highly sought-after in the energy industry, from technical experience and specialized training to leadership skills, work ethic, and teamwork. In an effort to make the Permian the most veteran-friendly region in the country, the Permian Strategic Partnership joined forces with America’s Warrior Partnership (AWP), a national veteran organization that connects veterans with local resources and opportunities, in 2021.
In 2022, AWP formally launched a new branch, the new Permian Warrior Partnership (PWP), funded by the Permian Strategic Partnership. PWP helps to improve the quality of life for veterans by coordinating local services and opportunities available to them, including housing, employment, education, enrollment in VA e-benefits, healthcare, recreation, and more. AWP’s Community Integration model is a holistic, veteran-focused, community-led initiative to proactively connect and engage with all veterans in a given area to ensure they have access to all the quality resources and opportunities available in collaboration with their local community.
After serving our country with honor, veterans deserve our support—and we are proud to continue to work with the Permian Warrior Partnership branch, serving all veterans in our region.
Following a debilitating accident in 1985, I was diagnosed with several conditions that made it challenging to work and manage daily life. Despite receiving an incorrect disability rating of only 20%, PWP gave me the information and resources necessary to reapply for disability, securing me a 100% rating. Their support was invaluable, and I’m grateful for their assistance in getting me back on my feet.
Veterans, Family Members, and Caregivers Engaged in the PWP Program
SARA WHITSELL / UNITED STATES ARMY VETERAN
Supporting Growth through Skilled Trade Programs
33
Of the Skillpoint Pre-Apprentice Electrical Program in 2022 GRADUATES 200
STUDENTS
Served by the Skillpoint Alliance Pre-Apprentice Electrical Program
Skilled professionals in electrical, plumbing, and HVAC are in high demand—but the number of skilled workers in these professions has been declining for decades. As a result, costs for these services have risen and so has worker pay. This change has brought a renewed focus on educating students in the trades, emphasizing the stability, high pay, and job security these careers can bring. Equally important is the value the trades provide to our communities.
In 2021, the Permian Strategic Partnership announced a partnership with Skillpoint Alliance, a nonprofit organization that provides fast-paced, no-cost job training in the skilled trades to lower-income, underserved, and under-accessed populations. PSP provided support for Skillpoint to expand its services to the Permian Basin, investing $2.6 million in workforce development.
We’ve learned about how electricity works, how to create complete circuits, simple switches, and safety factors. I had never held a hand tool before this program, so they had to show me everything—this program is for sure the reason I got this job.
ELIZABETH JONES / SKILLPOINT PRE - APPRENTICE GRADUATE
According to the Permian Basin Workforce Solutions Targeted Occupations List and labor shortage numbers, the largest industry need was within the electrical trade. In response to this need, in 2022, Skillpoint successfully launched a four-week, pre-apprentice electrical program, which was provided to students at no cost. Skillpoint Alliance in the Permian Basin has served nearly 200 students in 20 cohorts since the inception of the program. Students enrolled in the program learned about the basics of electricity, participated in hands-on learning experiences, and were educated about jobsite safety. Graduates earned certificates and college credit hours, received their OSHA 10 cards, and were equipped with tools to progress in the electrical industry.
Igniting an Interest in Energy through High School Internships
The energy sector is an exciting industry, vital to our economy and brimming with potential career opportunities—so why do more high school students not pursue energy careers?
A recent assessment conducted by the Permian Strategic Partnership and The Education Strategy Group concluded that too few education programs in the region specifically address the energy sector at the high school level. To address the gap, the PSP launched a summer energy internship for New Mexico high school students in 2022, with support from many of its member energy companies. The Permian Strategic Partnership (PSP) contributed funds to Loving Schools to support the internship program and impact the workforce pipeline for the Permian Basin.
Thirteen students from Loving Municipal Schools, ranging from sophomores to recently graduated seniors, completed the six-week program. Students learned about various career opportunities in the energy space, toured a rig, visited the offices of local energy companies, and engaged in real-world learning activities. The framework for the program was co-created with PSP’s member companies, with direct participation from Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Diamondback, ExxonMobil/XTO, and Oxy. Two teachers at Loving High
School facilitated the internship program, with support from the administrative team. Subject matter experts from member companies provided in-person and virtual instruction. Students also attended the EnergyPlex Conference in Hobbs, and actively participated in the sessions. The internship culminated in a final project that showcased student learning, with presentations given at Loving High School.
This internship model solves many challenges energy companies have in engaging young people by relieving the liability of having students on-site while still providing them with robust learning experiences. The Permian Strategic Partnership was proud to partner with Loving Municipal Schools to educate students on the region’s highest impact industry sector, and to make the Permian Basin an even better place to live, work, and raise families.
STUDENTS
Completed the Permian Strategic Partnership’s High School Summer Energy Internship Program in 2022
5-Year Reflection
With programs like our New Mexico Energy Internships, we are building a workforce pipeline for tomorrow’s energy leaders. Students are learning skills to pursue high-paying careers that will support their future—and we are growing our own for the industry that supports our region.
Every day, thousands of people drive on Permian roads—and as our population grows, it is time to invest in improving road safety and infrastructure across our region. This includes road construction and maintenance, advocating for enhanced driver safety, and support for legislation to approve infrastructure funding at the state and national levels. Since the inception of the Permian Strategic Partnership, we have partnered with our member companies, local communities, the Texas and New Mexico Departments of Transportation, and state and federal legislators to provide ongoing support for public safety initiatives. We have also supported firstresponder agencies by providing emergency equipment, and invested in expanding the Odessa Truck Driving Academy. Working together with our partners and our community, we are on the road to a safer Permian.
Infrastructure
Triple the Support for First Responders
The right tools are essential for any job—but when your job is saving lives, the stakes are much higher. First responders and law enforcement officers respond to emergencies every day, and in the Permian Basin, they often travel long distances to help those in need, with limited equipment available. To support our first responders and reduce vehicle crash fatalities across the Permian Basin, the Permian Strategic Partnership has partnered with the Permian Road Safety Coalition (PRSC) to provide special equipment requested by our local fire, police, and other emergency providers. Our original donation of $1.1 million kicked off our efforts across West Texas and Southeast New Mexico in 2021. In 2022, we announced a second round of funding totaling $3.17 million. This nearly tripled our funding and allowed us to provide even more equipment in the places that need it most.
The funds provided 82 first responder departments with high-quality equipment kits, and customized equipment and gear for unique needs that vary across the Permian Basin. The equipment included medical supply kits, fire extinguishers, protective clothing, gas monitors, mobile lighting tools, battery-powered jaws of life, and rescue
helicopter landing zone kits. The first responder agencies that received this equipment are located in the Texas counties of Andrews, Borden, Brewster, Crane, Culberson, Dawson, Ector, Gaines, Glasscock, Howard, Jeff Davis, Loving, Martin, Midland, Pecos, Presidio, Reagan, Reeves, Terrell, Upton, Ward, Winkler, and Yoakum, and the New Mexico counties of Eddy, Lea, and Chaves.
First responder agencies deserve the best equipment possible to protect our citizens and themselves. The Permian Strategic Partnership was honored to fund this important initiative, which helps our local heroes save even more lives.
82
First-Responder Departments Served
8,700 Pieces of Equipment Delivered
PSP’s generous support and equipment donations have helped save lives in our community. When I arrive on a scene, I don’t know what I will find, but with the tools PSP and the Permian Road Safety Coalition have provided, like battery-operated jaws of life, mobile lights, and fire extinguishers, in addition to their ‘first on the scene training’, I know I’m prepared.
D.A. DAGLEY / FIRE CHIEF, SEMINOLE FIRE DEPARTMENT
On the Road to a Safer Permian Basin
Truck drivers are vital to our economy and to the energy sector, where safe drivers are needed to transport goods and materials throughout the Permian Basin. However, there is currently a significant shortage of Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) certified drivers in our region. According to the Department of Public Safety, 65% of commercial vehicles in the Permian Basin are out of compliance, and in 2022 alone, 4,000 new CDL job postings were created in the region. Commercial motor vehicle–related crashes are on the rise along the I-20 corridor, underlining the need for driver training. To help meet the demand for drivers and improve road safety, the Permian Strategic Partnership and Odessa College (OC) are investing over $3.5 million into the expansion of the Odessa College Truck Driving Academy.
In 2023, Odessa College Truck Driving Academy announced the availability of scholarships for truck driving students. In 2023, 23 students received a PSP-supported scholarship.
$3.5
Grant to Expand the Odessa College Truck Driving Academy MILLION
These scholarships have helped to ease financial burdens for students and remove barriers to pursuing a high-income, high-demand career.
One of the program’s key goals is to expand the Academy’s capacity from 146 to 240 students per year. In order to do so, the Permian Strategic Partnership invested in new staff trainer positions, equipment, and scholarships to support Academy campuses in Odessa, Pecos, and Andrews. The budget for the program included five 2024 Peterbilt 579 trucks, three Belly Dump BD40T trailers, two Flatbed HAIFL42SAT trailers, five modified seat installments, 500 truck driving scholarships, and two full-time equivalent truck driving instructors.
This investment will lead to safer roads and a stronger workforce by increasing the number of safe, qualified drivers in the Permian Basin.
There is a great need for trained professional drivers in our region, and OC Truck Driving Academy graduates will help fill that need. I have built the professional truck driving program from the ground up to train the students to be professional commercial vehicle drivers and to emphasize the importance of safety on the road and in every aspect of their profession.
WILLIAM CHURCH / DIRECTOR, ODESSA COLLEGE TRUCK DRIVING ACADEMY
Advocating for State Funding with TxDOT & NMDOT
While the Permian Basin has experienced exceptional economic growth because of energy industry investment, it has also endured increased strains on its infrastructure. This is especially evident in the region’s roadways. In 2023, over 200 people lost their lives on Permian Basin roadways.1 The members of the Permian Strategic Partnership recognize the impact increased energy activity has on roads, including heavy traffic and transportation of water, sand, equipment, and large trucks. We believe it is our responsibility to not only invest in infrastructure improvements at a local level, but to advocate for state and federal support as well.
Over the past five years, we have collaborated with leaders in Texas and New Mexico, working closely with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and New Mexico Department of Transportation (NMDOT) to address road safety issues. We have also advocated at the national level, seeking public-private partnerships to make Permian Basin roadways safer. As a result of these efforts and the continued support of our partners, we are making significant progress toward improving our infrastructure.
Fatality Traffic Accidents, per Year, in Permian Basin Counties
Texas
Despite representing just 1.5% of the state’s population, the Permian Basin is responsible for more than 5% of fatalities on its roads.2 To pave the way toward safer roadways in Texas, the Permian Strategic Partnership has supported several initiatives in Texas.
Partnering with State and National Leaders in Texas
In May of 2019, the Permian Strategic Partnership hosted Texas Department of Transportation Chairman Bruce Bugg on a two-day visit that included tours of the region and its production facilities, and individual meetings with business and government leaders. Texas Governor Greg Abbott personally selected Bugg to assess the needs of government, industry, and residents of the Permian Basin, and the goal of the trip was to learn more about the region, to better understand and advocate for potential infrastructure investments.
In August of 2019, the Permian Strategic Partnership facilitated a roundtable discussion at the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum in Midland with U.S. Senator John Cornyn and Bruce Bugg. Participants included Permian Strategic Partnership Chair Don Evans, President of the Midland Chamber of Commerce Bobby Burns, County Judge Terry Johnson, and Midland Mayor Jerry Morales.
Almost five years later, Senator Cornyn again joined the PSP in Odessa for a roundtable discussion with PSP leaders on our accomplishments to date. Chairman Bruce Bugg also participated in the discussion before they moved into a celebratory luncheon and fireside chat about the Permian Basin’s future needs and priorities.
Since 2019, TxDOT has committed $885 million in road funding to Permian Basin roadways in Texas, through a project called the Permian Promise. The Permian Strategic Partnership played a key role in advocating for these investments, which will help to improve road safety, increase capacity, and reduce bottlenecks.
The PSP also advocated for $75 million in federal funds through Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) grants. Two awards of $25 million were made in 2018 for rural widening and overpass projects, and one $25 million award was made for Interstate 20 in 2020.
The PSP has continued to engage with TxDOT and other transportation stakeholders to make the case for increased investment in the Permian Basin and funding for future Permian Promise projects. From serving on the I27 advisory committee to the Midland Vision Zero Task Force, we made sure our member companies were represented and that our regional priorities were included in both short- and long-range planning efforts.
Additionally, we have hosted our Texas Transportation Commissioners in the Midland/Odessa area multiple times, taking them to rig and frac sites and driving them through I20 and other critical corridors. TxDOT has told us that these efforts are a major reason they understood our region’s needs and were comfortable making the decision to rapidly expand Permian funding allocations.
Collaborative Social Media Campaign to Promote Road Safety
In 2023, the Permian Strategic Partnership, the Permian Road Safety Coalition, TxDOT, and the Texas Department of Public Safety launched a collaborative social media campaign to promote road safety in the Permian Basin. The initiative, which used the hashtag #KeepPermianBasinSafe , reminded drivers to follow speed limits, drive sober, buckle up, and watch for pedestrians.
New Mexico
Over the past five years, an average of 32 fatal traffic accidents have taken place each year in the Permian Basin counties of New Mexico. Over the same period of time, the Permian Strategic Partnership has supported efforts to improve road safety, and reduce these numbers in New Mexico.
Securing Funding for New Mexico Road Safety Projects
In 2019, the Permian Strategic Partnership helped the state of New Mexico secure $87 million in new funding for its District 2, which includes Eddy and Lea counties. It also assisted NMDOT in securing a $12.5 million federal BUILD grant and supported the creation of safety corridors on US 285 and NM 128.
The safety corridors included improved signage and increased enforcement, with a zero-tolerance policy for traffic violations. Corridor segments were selected by reviewing historic accident and fatality data, a speed study which demonstrated a median speed limit substantially higher than posted, and driver behavior, as well as input from law enforcement. The project supported funding for an increased law enforcement presence from New Mexico State Police and from Eddy and Lea County Sheriffs’ offices.
Following the 2021 annual legislative session, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed key transportation legislation into law, including the state’s annual budget for 2022, which included:
● $25 million in discretionary roads project funding for District 2
● $35-$40 million for District 2 roads projects through approved state bonding
● $20 million for District 2 from the Local Transportation Projects Fund to support priority roads projects in local communities
● $1.5 million for Phase 2 construction of the Southeast Loop Road in Eddy County
In December of 2021, Eddy County approved nearly $4 million in additional funds for the construction of West Loop Road, connecting two major U.S. highways in Carlsbad and Eddy County: U.S. Highway 285 and U.S. Highway 62/180. Work on the estimated $10 to $12 million project began in September of 2021, and the road opened in July of 2023.
Since its formation, the Permian Strategic Partnership has consistently prioritized initiatives designed to expand access to quality healthcare for all Permian Basin individuals and their families. To address a critical shortage of healthcare professionals practicing in the region, the PSP has made significant investments to enhance and expand the pipeline for educating and training new professionals in both physical and behavioral health. We have also invested in new facilities essential for delivering quality care, and have co-founded a new organization that is developing a vision for improving the health of the entire region, with a particular focus on the challenges faced by our most rural populations.
INVESTING IN THE
Health OF OUR REGION
Health
$5.9 Invested to Grow the Family and Community Medicine Rural Residency Program MILLION
23 Additional Family Medicine Residents Will Be Admitted per Graduating Class
Expanding Healthcare through Physician Residencies
Access to healthcare is essential to quality of life, but in certain areas of the Permian Basin, finding a local primary care provider can be a challenge. With only one physician for every 3,500 residents, West Texas has been designated a Health Professional Shortage Area by the Texas Department of State Health Services.3 The shortage has a ripple effect, making it difficult to attract and retain employees across all sectors, from oilfield workers and engineers to teachers, restaurant employees, and hotel staff.
To address this challenge, the Permian Strategic Partnership teamed up with the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center School of Medicine to provide funding for the expansion of its Family and Community Medicine Rural Residency Program in 2020. We invested $5.9 million to help grow the program, which serves Midland Health, Carlsbad Medical Center, Lea Regional Medical Center in Hobbs, New Mexico, and Reeves County Medical Center in Pecos, Texas. The investment has allowed the program to admit 23 additional family medicine residents for each graduating class, creating a sustainable pipeline for medical talent in the Permian Basin.
Beyond training doctors to operate in rural regions, the residency program also helps them plant roots in the Permian Basin. Residents begin their training with a year in Midland or Odessa, and then spend two years practicing at rural sites. Retention is a key aspect of the program’s success. Training more doctors locally will likely increase the chances that doctors will continue to practice locally when their education is complete. By investing in a preeminent local healthcare institution, the Permian Strategic Partnership is helping to position the Permian Basin as a healthcare destination. After Texas Tech expanded its residency program, it became the second-largest family medicine residency program in the state of Texas.
Growing Our Own Surgeons and Specialists
As part of the overall physician shortage facing our region, the lack of surgeons presents a critical need. In the Permian Basin, a shortage of general surgeons has led to extended wait times for important surgeries. There is also a regional shortage of cardiologists and gastroenterologists. Following a “Grow Your Own” strategy, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) School of Medicine secured funding for the firstever Permian Basin Rural Surgical Resident Training program in 2021. The goal of the program is to draw surgical residents to the Permian Basin to work in regional hospitals. PSP partnered with TTUHSC School of Medicine by providing $12,800,000, over six years, to support the $17,540,000 initiative, which also funds critical sub-specialty fellowships
The program includes a Surgery Residency, Cardiology Fellowship, Gastroenterology Fellowship, and Critical Care Fellowship. It will add 15 surgery residents by 2025 and will add four cardiologist fellows, four gastroenterology fellows, and four critical care fellows by the end of 2024.
As discussed in a 2021 community roundtable conference presented by PSP, the Scharbauer Foundation, TTUHSC School of Medicine, and The University of Texas System,
approximately 27% of Permian Basin patients leave the area to receive healthcare. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in our region, and gastroenterology concerns are a common cause of hospital admission.4 Increasing the number of regional general surgeons, cardiologists, gastroenterologists, and critical care physicians will reduce the need to travel for healthcare, and could have a major impact on healthcare outcomes.
Retention of physicians is vital, and residency programs can attract more physicians to the areas where they are located, and aid in retention. National statistics indicate that up to 60% of trained residents will remain within a 50-mile radius of the region in which they served a residency to establish their medical practice.5 In supporting this program, PSP seeks to strengthen the physician pipeline for our region’s hospitals and clinics, which already have strong relationships with TTUHSC School of Medicine.
AT FULL CAPACITY, THE TEXAS TECH UNIVERSITY IN THE PERMIAN BASIN HEALTH SCIENCES CENTER SCHOOL OF MEDICINE CAN ACCOMMODATE:
7 Family Medicine Residents per Year
4. Arnold, E., Bentley, T., Billingsley,
15 Surgery Residents per Year
2 Mental Health Fellowships per Year
12 Physician Assistants per Year (Midland College Campus)
12 Sub-Specialty Fellowships per Year in Cardiology, Gastroenterology, and Critical Care
Scharbauer Foundation, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, The University of Texas System, Midland, Texas, United States.
5. Goodfellow, A., Ulloa, J. G., Dowling, P. T., Talamantes, E., Chheda, S., Bone, C., & Moreno, G. (2016). Predictors of Primary Care Physician Practice Location in Underserved Urban or Rural Areas in the United States: A Systematic Literature Review. Academic Medicine: Journal of the Association of American Medical Colleges, 91(9), 1313–1321. https://doi.org/10.1097/ACM.0000000000001203
G., Evans, D., Johnson, C., Kazmi, Z., Narcross, J., Zerwas, J., Spearman, L. (2021, August 3). Elevating Healthcare in the Permian Basin [Conference presentation]. Community Roundtable, Permian Strategic Partnership,
$10.7
Donated to Fund Scholarships for Students Pursuing Degrees in Healthcare MILLION
Preparing Tomorrow’s Healthcare Professionals with Partners in Higher Education
To ensure everyone in the Permian Basin has access to high-quality care when they need it, the region needs more nurses, doctors, and healthcare workers. One way to address the current shortage is by encouraging students who already live in the Permian Basin to pursue healthcare professions. Because the cost of college can be a barrier for many, the Permian Strategic Partnership is working to remove financial burdens by providing scholarships to regional universities with healthcare programs.
In 2021, the Permian Strategic Partnership donated $10.7 million to the University of Texas Permian Basin, to fund scholarships for students pursuing degrees in healthcare-related fields. The scholarships provide tuition and fees for undergraduates majoring in Nursing, Pre-Med, Pre-Dental, and Pre-Pharmacy.
Scholarships are competitive, and candidates are required to have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, be permanent residents of the Permian Basin, and agree to work three years after graduation in a health-related field for an employer in the Permian Basin. Funding is awarded through a combination of federal, state, and institutional funds to qualifying students. By making it possible for more students to pursue healthcare degrees, the program will add up to 60 nursing graduates and 60 pre-med graduates by 2027, and annually thereafter.
This transformational investment from PSP will have a significant impact on healthcare in the region. The University is proud to partner in this important initiative, because we know healthcare professionals are vitally important to the Permian’s future success. Thanks to PSP, students who wish to pursue high-demand health professions can graduate debt-free and become the talented workforce we so desperately need. It’s a game-changer for us and for the health of the region.
DR. SANDRA WOODLEY / PRESIDENT, THE UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS PERMIAN BASIN
Investing in Healthcare Education
Serving on the frontlines of patient care, nurses take vital signs, assess symptoms, provide treatment, monitor progress, and act as patient advocates, leading to better healthcare outcomes. Currently, there is a nursing shortage in the Permian Basin, leading to delayed procedures, closed hospital floors, and high recruitment costs. The region also has shortages of other essential care providers, including physician assistants, respiratory therapists, and dental health providers. Odessa College is an important partner in educating the next generation of healthcare professionals—and the Permian Strategic Partnership is investing in increasing its capacity.
The Permian Strategic Partnership’s investment in the Wood Health Sciences Building helped Odessa College reach a major milestone in the capital campaign. The expanded capacity in our instructional space will allow OC to accept more students in the School of Health Sciences, which will result in more graduates going to work here in the Permian Basin.
DR. GREG WILLIAMS / PRESIDENT, ODESSA COLLEGE
In 2021, the Permian Strategic Partnership made a $4 million contribution toward the construction of Odessa College’s new Wood Health Sciences Building, an 83,000-square-foot facility that will allow more students to enroll in School of Health Sciences programs and healthcare continuing education programs. The structure for the building was completed in June of 2023, and the facility is expected to open in 2024. Currently, Odessa College produces 269 health sciences graduates per year. Once open, the building is expected to accommodate an estimated 171 more highly skilled health sciences graduates, or earned certificates per semester, representing a 64% increase.
The total cost for the new building is about $40 million. It includes four floors of instruction and community space, enabling the College to accept more students and expand its programs. The first floor will hold a 21,000-square-foot simulation hospital—the first in the state of Texas. The building will also include patient labs, debriefing rooms, a 450-seat meeting room, a lecture hall, classrooms, and faculty offices. The building will host an additional registered nursing program, a licensed vocational nursing program, and programs in dental hygiene, respiratory therapy, health information management, physician therapist assistants, and more.
THE WOOD HEALTH SCIENCE BUILDING WILL INCREASE NURSING PROGRAM CAPACITY FOR ODESSA COLLEGE TO:
30
Associates of Nursing per Year
40 Licensed Vocational Nurses per Year
$4
Toward Construction of the Wood Health Sciences Building at Odessa College MILLION
Bringing Behavioral Health Services Closer to Home
According to a 2016 Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute assessment of Midland County, one in five residents is in need of mental health services. However, the region only has the capacity to serve about 10% of those needs. The PSP has been working to address this need for mental and behavioral health facilities, professionals, and services, and thanks to the hard work and dedication of our partners, we are excited to report significant progress on this front. Over the past five years, we have supported three key initiatives supporting behavioral health: establishing Permian Basin Counseling & Guidance, building a new Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center, and funding scholarships for Licensed Professional Counselors.
Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center
Over the past three years, the Midland County and Ector County Hospital Districts joined together to establish a new behavioral health center for the Permian Basin region, with support from the Permian Strategic Partnership and many other community partners. The estimated cost for the new center is $225 million, and during the 2021 and 2023 Texas legislative sessions, $126.7 million of funding was
appropriated by the state. Additional funding has been sourced locally, with the PSP pledging to invest $12.5 million to the center in 2022.
In order to qualify for state and federal funding, the center first needed to identify a site for construction. In 2022, PSP Member Company Diamondback Energy provided the land for the facility, designating 54 acres immediately south of the University of Texas Permian Basin’s Midland campus.
The planning and design for the center has been completed, and construction began in 2023. The new facility is expected to open by the end of 2025.
The new Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center will comprise approximately 225,000 square feet, with 200 inpatient beds, outpatient services, crisis stabilization services, and professional offices. It will serve as the behavioral health teaching home of Texas Tech University Health Science Center (TTUHSC) Permian Basin, supporting the psychiatric residency program. The facility will treat patients of all ages, with a mission of providing exemplary care, raising awareness, reducing stigma, and facilitating collaboration among providers.
We would love nothing better than to see behavioral health concerns treated as the equivalent of physical health concerns in our community. Our vision is to ensure that there is no difference in the access to care or the efficacy of care provided to patients, whether the concern is in their brain or in their body.
RUSSELL MEYERS / CEO, PERMIAN BASIN BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CENTER
$12.5
MILLION
Investment to Build the New Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center
200
Additional Inpatient Beds to Serve the Region
Permian Basin Counseling and Guidance
In the Permian Basin, there has always been a need for mental and behavioral health care—and COVID-19 brought its importance to the forefront, exposing an increased demand for mental and behavioral health services due to a strained healthcare system, educational disruption, and housing and economic challenges. In 2021, the average wait to receive mental or behavioral health treatment in the region was estimated at eight months to a year—and in some areas of the Basin, suicide rates were more than 50% higher than the U.S. average.
To help address this important need, the Permian Strategic Partnership partnered with FMH Foundation and West Texas Counseling & Guidance to establish Permian Basin Counseling & Guidance (PBCG), providing a six-year commitment to fund expanded mental and behavioral health services across the Permian Basin. The PSP provided $2,267,446 in funding support for the program, with a focus on Lea and Eddy counties in New Mexico. The FMH Foundation contributed an additional $770,805 to cover mental health services for
residents of Howard County, Texas. Together, both organizations also expanded access to telehealth services for rural Permian Basin counties of West Texas.
Permian Basin Counseling & Guidance began offering services in 2021, with a mission of enabling individuals and families to reach their full potential in body, mind, and spirit, using evidence-based counseling and educational services. To date, the organization has provided services for approximately 1,700 unique clients served in over 17,000 counseling sessions.
As a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization, PBCG ensures that individuals and families seeking mental health treatment have access to counseling services, regardless of their socioeconomic status or ability to pay. In addition to providing no-cost care for patients, PBCG also plays an important role in recruiting and developing behavioral health professionals in the Permian Basin region, which has a severe behavioral healthcare shortage.
Our mission at West Texas Counseling & Guidance is to offer hope and healing to communities across the region. This partnership with PSP and the FMH Foundation allows us to further this mission into the Permian Basin and make a direct, immediate impact on patient care, while building a stronger mental health services network for years to come.
DUSTY MCCOY / EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, WEST TEXAS COUNSELING & GUIDANCE
Supporting Scholarships for Behavioral Health Students
New organizations and facilities like Permian Basin Counseling and Guidance and the Permian Basin Behavioral Health Center will be instrumental in meeting the Permian Basin’s mental health needs—but to staff these facilities, the region will also need an increase in qualified behavioral health professionals.
Grant to Strengthen the Behavioral Health Workforce in the Permian Basin MILLION
30 New Behavioral Health Counselor Graduates per Year 50 New Social Work Graduates per Year
In 2023, the Permian Strategic Partnership partnered with the Scharbauer Foundation to provide $10 million in grants to the University of Texas Permian Basin (UTPB) to strengthen the mental and behavioral health workforce in the Permian Basin. These funds will allow UTPB to cover tuition and mandatory fees for graduate students who live in one of the 22 counties in West Texas and Southeastern New Mexico that make up the Permian Basin, and are majoring in Clinical Psychology, Social Work, Counseling, or School Counseling. The program announced its first group of scholarship recipients in the fall of 2023, and expects to serve 30 additional behavioral health counselor graduates per year, and 50 new social work graduates per year. Awards are renewable for up to three years.
Investing in the education of the next generation of mental health professionals is a crucial step toward fulfilling the demand for comprehensive healthcare services in our region. Together with our partners, we are building a robust network of behavioral health resources that will serve as a lifeline for our community.
Our goal is to grow the next generation of behavioral health providers in the Permian Basin. Thanks to the support of the PSP and the Scharbauer Foundation, we can now remove the financial burden so students can focus on having a significant impact in this region by becoming excellent counselors, psychologists, or social workers.
DR. SANDRA WOODLEY / PRESIDENT, UT PERMIAN BASIN
Focusing on the Future: Rural Health
The Permian Basin comprises 86,000 square miles—yet is only served by 20 hospitals. As a largely rural area, the population of the region is widely dispersed, and in many areas, patients must travel far from home to receive medical care. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, unintentional injury deaths are approximately 50% higher in rural areas than in urban areas, and rural Americans are also more likely to die from heart disease, cancer, unintentional injury, chronic lower respiratory disease, and stroke than their urban counterparts.6 To reduce these risks and improve population health, the Permian Strategic Partnership began to focus on several rural healthcare initiatives in 2023, with more progress on this front in 2024 and beyond.
The Beacon Alliance
One of our most important rural health developments in 2023 was the formation of The Beacon Alliance, a collaboration of energy industry and community partners to extend and enhance access to quality healthcare and health education within the Permian Basin. Situated on 250+ acres between Midland and Odessa, the Beacon will bring together elements
of healthcare, education, culture, and parks in a live-work-play environment, promoting health and well-being, along with many other benefits. Through partnerships with local medical centers, colleges, and universities, it will transform healthcare and education across the Permian Basin.
Mobile Clinics
In remote regions of the Permian Basin, accessing healthcare can be a challenge. When the nearest doctor or clinic is hours away, patients may delay care—or avoid medical visits altogether. Issues with mobility, a lack of insurance, and inability to afford treatments may also prevent patients from seeking care. To help improve healthcare outcomes in the Permian Basin, the Permian Strategic Partnership is partnering with Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) to bring healthcare where it is needed most, through Medicine on the Move mobile clinics. TTUHSC continues to work to establish partnerships with community organizations to sponsor these clinics, which offer immunizations, preventative screenings, and ongoing patient care.
5 Year Reflection
Over the past five years, we have partnered with universities and community colleges, investing in scholarships and initiatives to grow our local healthcare workforce. We have also prioritized behavioral health by funding facilities, treatment, and training, and focused on rural health by investing in mobile clinics and forming The Beacon Alliance, a community development centered on healthcare education.
Fueling the Future, One Vote at a Time
Voting in local, state, and national elections empowers individuals to actively participate in the democratic process, and ensures their voices are heard. Yet in the Permian Basin, only 10% of registered voters have turned out to vote historically, and voter registration has declined in recent years. With many important issues on the ballots in 2023, including school bonds, school boards, and mayoral and city council elections, the Permian Strategic Partnership launched a Get Out the Vote Campaign ahead of the November 7 election. The goal of the effort was to register new voters across the entire region and encourage participation in the election.
The Permian Strategic Partnership invested $50,000 in the campaign, which targeted both English and Spanish speakers in counties across West Texas and Southeastern New Mexico. The campaign included in-person voter registration events, informative voter registration postcards in English and Spanish, paid media, radio ads, social media, e-mail, full-page ads in local papers, and video production. Key partners in the campaign included the Midland Chamber of Commerce, Hobbs Chamber of Commerce, Odessa Chamber of Commerce, Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, Black Chamber of Commerce of the Permian Basin, and the Midland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Our community thrives when its residents actively participate in the democratic process. Voting in local races allows us to elect leaders and adopt policies that align with our values and understand our unique needs.
SAM COBB / MAYOR OF HOBBS, NEW MEXICO
When citizens exercise their right to vote, they hold elected officials accountable, ensure diverse perspectives are considered in shaping policies and laws, and help to promote a fair and representative system of governance. The Permian Strategic Partnership is committed to ensuring all voices in our community are heard, and we will continue to encourage active voter participation.
$50,000
Invested in the 2023 Get Out the Vote Campaign
About the Permian Strategic Partnership
When we work together, we can achieve a far greater impact than we could alone. The Permian Strategic Partnership is a unique alliance between 29 leading energy companies and educational institutions in the Permian Basin:
Apache Corporation
BPX Energy
ChampionX
Chevron
Civitas Resources
ConocoPhillips
Coterra Energy
Devon Energy
Diamondback Energy
Endeavor Energy Resources
EOG Resources
ExxonMobil
Halliburton
Helmerich & Payne
Kinetik
Liberty Energy
Mewbourne Oil Company
Occidental Petroleum
Ovintiv
Permian Resources
Pioneer Natural Resources
Plains All American Pipeline
Pro Petro
SLB
Targa Resources Corp.
The Texas Tech University System
The University of Texas System
WaterBridge Resources
Western Midstream
Individually, each of our member organizations is a strong contributor to our global energy economy, and our local communities. While the energy companies listed here are technically competitors, we choose to work together toward a common goal: to make a lasting impact in the Permian Basin.
With its vast reserves, the region has the potential to improve energy security for decades—but to keep pace with growth, investment in community development is critical. Founded in 2018, the Permian Strategic Partnership focuses on addressing challenges to the responsible development of the Permian Basin in New Mexico and Texas. By supporting safer roads, innovative schools, accessible healthcare, affordable housing, a trained workforce, and other vital infrastructure needs, we can strengthen the Permian today, and ensure its success well into the future.
