BMI develops job opportunities

PALESTINE — East Texans may soon have a new opportunity to change careers without returning to school. The Bitcoin Mining Institute (BMI) has announced plans to establish a location in Palestine, where they will hire technicians to repair computers used in bitcoin mining. According to our news partner KETK, Chief Executive Officer Tyler Schmill announced that their offices will undergo construction for the next six months. They will begin hiring at least 20 technicians and plan to hire a total of 350 employees over the next five years.

Schmill said people do not need prior experience in cryptocurrency, information technology or data center management before starting work there.

“BMI isn’t just bringing jobs to Palestine, it’s creating a new industry and a path for residents to step into lasting careers,” Christophe Trahan, Economic Development Director for PEDC, said. “After their time at BMI, employees can use their newly acquired skills across the technology sector. We expect more companies to move to this region as a result of BMI’s investment.”

Schmill recognized that many people cannot afford to take eight weeks off work to complete a training certificate and may also struggle with being unemployed during that period. This prompted him to reach out to Trinity Valley Community College (TVCC) to create coursework that enables employees to begin learning from their very first day on the job.

TVCC developed a specific course to support BMI and create a talent pipeline in Palestine for individuals interested in supporting data centers and Bitcoin mines. It’s education partnership with TVCC will help BMI solve its hiring challenges in an industry that few know even exists. Schmill and his team also worked closely with the Palestine Economic Development Corporation (PEDC) to identify the right building for their space.