Regional initiative will support providers, improve quality standards, and expand access to high-quality childcare and early education
MIDLAND, Texas – (September 29, 2026) – The Permian Strategic Partnership (the PSP) today announced a $3.4 million investment in the Childcare Action Plan, a regional initiative designed to strengthen childcare services and support working families across West Texas.
The three-year initiative, administered by the Education Partnership of the Permian Basin (EPPB), will support both traditional childcare centers and home-based providers serving infants, toddlers, and preschool-aged children. Participating providers will receive professional development opportunities, technical assistance, substitute staffing resources, facility improvement support, and tools designed to help them achieve or obtain or improve their Texas Rising Star designation. Texas Rising Star is the state’s quality rating and improvement system for childcare programs, recognizing providers that meet standards beyond those required by Child Care Regulation.
Of the $3.4 million investment, $500,000 will support facility improvements that help providers expand capacity and enhance learning environments, while another $300,000 will fund retention incentives for current childcare educators. The remaining funds, roughly $2.6 million, will support a range of childcare workforce efforts, including business coaching and administrative support; recruitment partnerships with ECISD, MISD, Odessa College, and Midland College; and a substitute teacher pool offered through a shared services model.
The investment, made with support from the Abell Hanger, Scharbauer, and Warren foundations, builds upon the successful launch of the Midland Child Care Action Network and expands access to resources and support for providers throughout Odessa and the broader Permian Basin.
“Access to high-quality childcare impacts everything from workforce participation to educational outcomes,” said Tracee Bentley, president and CEO of the PSP. “When providers have the tools and support they need to succeed, children are better prepared for school, parents are better able to participate in the workforce, and communities are stronger as a result. This investment is about creating lasting benefits for families across the region.”
“This work is a powerful example of what can happen when philanthropy, industry, education, and community partners come together around a shared need,” said Shannon Torres, Executive Director of the Education Partnership of the Permian Basin. “Childcare is essential infrastructure for a strong Permian Basin. By investing in the people and providers who care for our youngest children, we are not only strengthening early learning, but also supporting families, employers, and the long-term vitality of our region. EPPB is proud to partner with PSP and our local foundations to help turn this plan into meaningful, sustainable support for childcare providers across our communities.”
Implementation is expected to begin early next year, with additional information regarding provider participation and program services to be announced.
About the Permian Strategic Partnership: The Permian Strategic Partnership (PSP) is a coalition of 26 leading Permian Basin energy companies and two university systems who have joined together to work in partnership with leaders across the region’s communities to address current and future challenges to the responsible development of the vast oil and natural gas resources of the Permian Basin in the states of New Mexico and Texas. The PSP members are BPX Energy, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Crescent Energy, Deep Blue, Devon Energy, Diamondback Energy, Energy Transfer, EOG Resources, ExxonMobil, Halliburton, Helmerich & Payne, Kinetik, Liberty Energy, Mewbourne Oil Company, Occidental, Oncor, Ovintiv, Permian Resources, Phillips 66, Plains All American, ProPetro, SLB, Targa Resources, The Texas Tech University System, The University of Texas System, WaterBridge, and Western Midstream. For more information, visit www.permianpartnership.org.