Edition: June 1, 2025

SAWDC AlabamaWorks:

Closing a Chapter, Celebrating a Legacy

After 17 incredible years of service, Southwest Alabama Workforce Development Council (SAWDC AlabamaWorks) will officially dissolve on June 30, 2025. This decision follows the enactment of the Alabama Workforce Transformation Act, which repealed state funding for regional workforce councils.

Since 2008, it has been our honor to serve the businesses, educators, job seekers, and communities across southwest Alabama. We are deeply grateful for the partnerships, collaboration, and shared commitment that made this work possible.

To our investors, supporters, and friends – thank you. Your dedication has helped build a stronger, more connected workforce in our region.

As we prepare to close this chapter, we remain proud of the legacy we leave behind and are confident that the work will carry forward through those we’ve had the privilege to work alongside.

Thank you for allowing us to serve.

With gratitude,

Bridget Wilson, Hayleigh Barlar, and Bridgette Young

The SAWDC AlabamaWorks Team

Access to Resources Through September

Our website, sawdcalabamaworks.com, will remain active through September 30, 2025, to ensure continued access to key workforce resources.

You’ll find helpful links and information to connect with regional and state workforce support services that can assist you moving forward.

SAWDC Awards Over $755,000 to Advance Workforce Development Across Southwest Alabama

SAWDC AlabamaWorks is proud to leave a legacy by awarding more than $755,000 to support workforce development programs across Southwest Alabama. These funds are intended to expand programs, remove barriers, and provide more Alabamians with the training and skills they need to secure meaningful employment.

Through this investment, SAWDC aims to continue advancing workforce development by helping programs meet immediate supply, scholarship, and access needs—ensuring that more individuals have pathways to success long after our operations conclude.

To maintain this momentum, the SAWDC Legacy Fund has been established with the Community Foundation of South Alabama. This fund will allow additional organizations and programs to apply for grants that support continued workforce development across the region.

2025 SAWDC Workforce Development Grant Recipients:

Baldwin Community & Economic Development Foundation – Baldwin Prep Academy and Career Technical Education (CTE) Programs
Baldwin County Public Schools – Baldwin Girls Build Camp
Bishop State Community College – FAME on the Coast
Chickasaw City Schools – CTE Programs
City of Butler – Workforce Development Center
Clarke County Schools – CTE Programs
Coastal Alabama Community College – FAME Built by Baldwin
Mobile Area Chamber of Commerce Foundation – Workforce Development Initiatives
Mobile Area Education Foundation (MAEF) – IGNITE Academy
Mobile County Public Schools – CTE Programs
Reid State Technical College Foundation – N.O.W. Program
Saraland City Schools – CTE Programs
Satsuma City Schools – CTE Programs

While SAWDC’s operations are winding down, our belief in the power of partnership, collaboration, and community investment lives on through the work of these outstanding organizations.

Saraland City Schools Students Chart Career Paths Through Virtual Reality Technology

In partnership with Bishop State Community College’s Office of Early College Programs, 9th-grade students from Saraland High School are stepping into the future—literally. Using Transfr VR simulations, these students explored high-demand careers through immersive, hands-on experiences.

Funded by a grant from the Community Foundation of South Alabama, this initiative equips students with real-world skills and a clearer vision of what their futures could look like. Thanks to the leadership of Emily Easterbrook from Saraland High School, the program sparked excitement and ambition.

Students participated in cutting-edge simulations aligned with local workforce needs, bridging the gap between classroom learning and career readiness.

Dale Carnegie Workshop

On Wednesday, May 21, 2025, SAWDC AlabamaWorks teamed up with Dale Carnegie Training of the Emerald Coast to deliver a high-impact Public Speaking Workshop, led by renowned facilitator Ian Mohorn.

Held in a dynamic, interactive format, the workshop empowered participants to elevate their communication game. From conquering stage fright to commanding the room, attendees dove into strategies that help deliver complex information with clarity, influence, and confidence.

Whether a seasoned speaker or just getting started, everyone walked away with practical tools to:

Engage and inspire an audience
Master nerves and anxiety
Present ideas with power and purpose

The event underscored the importance of strong communication in every professional setting, because how you say it can matter just as much as what you say.

UPDATE: Leadership Skills Training

Since 2020, we’ve been honored to equip more than 2,000 participants with valuable leadership skills. While SAWDC is winding down, we are pleased to announce that Goodwill Gulf Coast, in partnership with AIDT, will continue this important work starting in July.

We encourage you to continue investing in your teams by registering for upcoming sessions:

🔗 Goodwill Gulf Coast Leadership Skills Training Registration

For questions about upcoming sessions after June, please contact Ginny Turner at GTurner@goodwillgc.org.

June 12th: Leadership Skills Training 3
June 18th: Dale Carnegie Workshop

CONTACT US

Bridget Wilson, Executive Director | bwilson@sawdc.org

Hayleigh Barlar, Workforce Development Manager | hbarlar@sawdc.org

Bridgette Young, Education and Programs Manager | byoung@sawdc.org