The Quarterly Workforce Summit features workforce development and education updates for the Southwest Alabama Region. The workforce summit is designed to bring together

our workforce development champions from the private and public sectors that serve our nine-county footprint.

Join us as the Region 7 Work-Based Learning Best Practices winners will be presenting their respective programs and the impacts it has had within their organizations or for students and future job seekers.

The Mobile County Public School System is partnering with APM Terminals, the Alabama Port Authority, South Alabama Logistics Park, the Mobile Chamber of Commerce, and Evonik to introduce students to “the logistics field, learn industry-specific skills and processes, and study global logistics and supply chain management,” according to an MCPSS release.

Students will be able to earn two certifications, certified logistics associate and certified logistics technician, that will allow the students to get opportunities locally in the industry at a time of “unprecedented growth.”

Partners in Workforce:

"Building Workforce Pipelines"

More than 40 industry, education, and community partners gathered for the Partners in Workforce meeting on September 19 in Monroeville, Alabama. Colleagues from Coastal Alabama Community College, Reid State Technical College, and the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship presented on the various programs that industry can develop to support cultivating a continuous workforce pipeline and the support available to businesses as it relates to training, recruiting, and financial support for workforce needs.

Special thanks to our host, Coastal Alabama Community College, for this great event. Mark your calendars for the next Partners in Workforce meeting scheduled for December 6 in Atmore, Alabama.

Region 7 Community Colleges awarded more than $2.4 million in workforce grants

Bishop State Community College, Coastal Alabama Community College, and Reid State Technical College have been awarded more than $2.4 million in workforce development grants for FY24. The purpose of these funds is to support innovative, creative, and regionally customized workforce development projects. Awards under this initiative will support strategic regional efforts that meet businesses’ short-term workforce needs, address long-term industry needs, improve regional talent pipelines, enhance the flexibility and adaptability of local workforce entities, and expand work-based learning opportunities.

Areas that have been awarded funding are CDL program expansion, welding program expansions for all three colleges, healthcare program advancements, and success coaches.

Manufacturing Partners gather for workforce updates

On September 20, the SAWDC team joined the Mobile Chamber, Alabama Power, and MAST manufacturing leaders at Bishop State Community College to discuss career pathways and industry engagement opportunities available through partnerships with Bishop State Community College and the Alabama Technology Network.

The MAST corridor is home to 25 chemical manufacturers and a total of 27 facilities that collectively employ approximately 3,300 and have an annual economic impact of $1.9 billion.

We are thrilled to introduce you to our newest team member, Bridgette Young! Joining us as the Education and Programs Manager, Bridgette brings a wealth of talent and expertise that will undoubtedly strengthen our team. With a background in recruiting and operations management, she is poised to make an immediate impact and contribute to our ongoing success.

We're confident that Bridgette will quickly become an integral part of our team, and she is eager to start contributing to our projects and initiatives. She is excited about the opportunity to work with all of you and is looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

Please join us in giving Bridgette Young a warm welcome to the SAWDC AlabamaWorks family. We look forward to achieving great things together with Bridgette as part of our team.

Dr. Khalilah Burton provided a great interactive workshop on September 25 for the SAWDC staff, board of directors, and partners on Robert's Rules of Order. She covered the standard order of business for meetings on how to operate, correctly make motions, and adopt those motions. This provided a great guide on how to function more effectively in meetings and ensure that everyone has a voice.