MONTGOMERY — Gov. Kay Ivey has announced a $1 million grant to help bring new jobs and a readied workforce to west Alabama.
The grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission, a federal-state partnership, will help convert part of a downtown Tuscaloosa building into an automotive workforce training center. Graduates of the training center could help fill the ranks at the Mercedes-Benz factory in nearby Vance, at one of the 20 automotive supplier companies in Tuscaloosa County or at other automobile manufacturers and suppliers elsewhere in the state.
“Automotive manufacturing industries continue to grow and flourish in Alabama and with that growth comes the need for a ready and capable workforce,” Gov. Ivey said. “I am pleased to support the establishment of this training center which will help continue to supply a ready and able workforce for automobile manufacturers and suppliers throughout Alabama.”
The West Alabama Chamber Foundation will renovate a 5,733-square-foot section of the chamber’s building in downtown Tuscaloosa for the training center. The center will be in the former Regions Bank building which was acquired by the West Alabama Chamber Foundation in 2021.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the ARC program in Alabama.
“This job-ready training center will offer the types of skilled laborers the automobile manufacturing businesses are seeking in Alabama,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “ADECA and Gov. Ivey are appreciative of the Appalachian Regional Commission and their commitment to training Alabamians for these high-demand jobs.”
ARC is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments. The agency’s mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation. Thirty-seven Alabama counties, including Tuscaloosa County, are part of the ARC region and eligible for funds.
ADECA manages a range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, recreation, energy conservation and water resource management.
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