$30 million EV training center in Alabama will support auto industry growth
Alabama is building a $30 million workforce training center that will focus on electric vehicles (EVs) and emerging technologies, with the goal of positioning the state’s auto industry for the next chapter of its growth. The facility will be on the campus of the Alabama Robotics Technology Park, a $73 million center near Decatur operated by AIDT that helps companies train workers on advanced R&D and manufacturing technologies. “Alabama is already a recognized leader in workforce development, and this training center concentrating on EVs and new technologies will add an important dimension to our capabilities,” Gov. Kay Ivey said. “This investment shows that we’re fully committed to making Alabama an even greater force in the global auto industry in the future.” AIDT Director Ed Castile said design work has begun on the planned facility, which is projected to span 40,000 square feet at Robotics Park, where there is room for growth on 40 available acres. The training center is expected to be operational in 18 to 24 months. “Our main goal is to help the state’s automakers continue to grow during the transition to electric powertrains and assist them as they embrace new technologies that are evolving all the time,” said Castile, who also serves as deputy secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “We just want to make sure we have a workforce that has the ability to thrive in this new environment, so it’s a natural extension of what we do at Robotics Park.” Alabama is building a $30 million workforce training center to focus on electric vehicles and new technologies in the auto industry. The facility will be at the Alabama Robotics Technology Park near Decatur. (contributed) New technologies AIDT and the Department of Commerce have been working on developing programs for the new training center, which included visits to EV battery factories in Japan and Europe. A technical committee composed of auto industry leaders and others has also been formed to offer guidance. In addition, a group of academic partners has been assembled as allies to advance the effort. This includes the Alabama Mobility and Power Center at the University of Alabama, the Alabama Community College System, and the state’s K-12 school system. Alabama Power is a partner in the Alabama Mobility and Power Center. “The auto industry is being confronted by the strong headwinds of disruptive technologies today, and it’s vital that we’re prepared to help Alabama’s autoworkers adapt to the industry’s shifting directions,” said Greg Canfield, secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. Plans for the training center come as Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai have launched production of EVs at their Alabama manufacturing plants, and companies in the EV battery supply chain have begun locating in the state. The activity is expected to accelerate amid massive industry EV investments. The Alabama Legislature approved funding for the new training center during its last session through a bill sponsored by state Sen. Arthur Orr, R-Decatur. “Robotics Technology Park has long represented the gold standard for workforce training and a tremendous resource for Alabama and the companies that use it,” Orr said. “That makes it the perfect home for this new facility focusing on advanced automotive technologies, which will ensure an important industry in our state will continue to thrive.” Castile said Alabama-based Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC) is designing the new training center to be expandable and easy to reconfigure to meet future demands. GMC is familiar with the Robotics Park site, having worked on the three existing training buildings there. Castile believes the center will become a catalyst for auto industry growth in the state. “Alabama’s status is really growing in the automotive industry, and workforce will be a key component as we try to keep up with and even get ahead of what’s going on in the industry. Everything we can come up with that supports the development of our workforce is a step forward,” he said. “I’m confident this is going to be a huge step for us.” A version of this story originally appeared on the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama website.
Progress report on Kay Ivey’s Success Plus plan; Alabama work skills increase
On Thursday, Gov. Kay Ivey shared that Alabama is making progress toward reaching her goal of adding 500,000 people with post-secondary credentials to the state’s workforce by 2025. Also known as Governor Ivey’s Success Plus plan, the report showed that since launching the plan in 2018, Alabama has added 214,922 credentials, according to the Center for Regional Economic Competitiveness (CREC). “Here in Alabama, we are laser-focused on bringing good-paying jobs to the state, and very importantly, we want to ensure we are providing opportunities for Alabamians to be the most equipped for those jobs,” stated Governor Ivey. “I am proud of our progress and predict we are well on our way to surpassing the goal of adding 500,000 additional credentialed individuals to our workforce by 2025.” Governor Ivey, collaborating with AlabamaWorks! and the Alabama Workforce Council, partnered with Credential Engine and the CREC to measure the progress. “I am extremely proud of the work the Alabama Workforce Council has done in advancing Governor Ivey’s Success Plus initiative and helping Alabamians earn post-secondary credentials that will set them up for success,” commented Alabama Workforce Council Chair Tim McCartney. “It is evident we have more work to do to carry this goal to completion, but we are on the right path and have the right leadership with Governor Ivey at the helm.” The progress report shows that since 2018, Alabama has made progress toward the Success Plus goal of adding 500,000 credentialed adults ages 16 to 64 to the workforce by 2025. Of the more than 200,000 added credentialed individuals, 137,848 newly credentialed individuals were in the 16 to 24 age group, and 38,240 were in the 25 to 64 age group. “Alabama’s current and future economic growth depends on a highly skilled workforce. That’s why I am so proud of the progress we are making in increasing our postsecondary education attainment goal,” said Alabama Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield. “We are on track to meet our goal, which will result in more Alabamians in the workforce.” “Success Plus has required focused efforts across multiple state agencies, the private sector and community-based organizations,” stated AIDT Executive Director and Deputy Commerce Secretary Ed Castile. “I am proud of the progress we have made thus far, and I am even more excited about the progress we will make between now and 2025.”
Airbus expanding in Alabama, adding 1,000 jobs
The space industry is expanding in Alabama, Gov. Kay Ivey said. The governor was in Mobile on Monday afternoon to announce Airbus is adding to its aerospace manufacturing facility and will create more than 1,000 new jobs in the coming years. The company is planning to add a third production and final assembly line at the facility as it plans to increase production on its A320 family of single-aisle passenger aircraft. “It’s wonderful to see Airbus continue to grow its only U.S. airliner manufacturing operation with another expansion in Mobile,” the Republican governor said in a release. “This growth is made possible by the company’s skilled workforce in Alabama and our commitment to developing a pipeline of future aerospace workers.” Airbus already employs 1,200 at the Mobile production facility, according to the release. The announcement comes just one week after the aerospace company said it plans to increase global production on the jets, which features the new 350,000 square-foot production line addition in Mobile as part of its plan. “The fact that Mobile will lead our unprecedented global production rate increase in coming years is a tribute to the world-class labor force in Alabama,” C. Jeffrey Knittel, chairman and CEO of Airbus Americas, said in the release. “I’m so proud of our Mobile employees for proving through years of hard work what Alabama is capable of, and I’m also immensely grateful to state leadership for making Alabama such a great place to invest and do business.” According to the release, the state is focusing workforce development and education efforts to work on recruitment and training initiatives to construct a pipeline for jobs, said Ed Castile, director of AIDT who also serves as secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “Airbus has been an extraordinary partner as we work together daily to help change people’s lives,” Castile said in the release. “Airbus provides incredible career opportunities, and we have the awesome opportunity to help them find their team and assist with training.” According to the release, AIDT said it will widen its Aviation Training Center, which is located in Mobile at the Aeroplex at Brookley. The 36,500 square-foot facility, which opened in 2014, will aid Airbus production in place, Castile said. The organization plans to increase apprenticeship programs to support the company’s training programs at Flight Works Alabama. Focused projects include FlightPath9 and We Build It Better. Dual enrollment will be accepted at area schools, according to the release. Flight Works Alabama, which is located near the production facility, provides education in aerospace with a goal of drawing in future aviation workers to the 15,000 square-foot facility, the release says. The facility targets high school seniors to provide information for those students who want to work in the industry, according to the release. The We Build It Better focuses on providing classroom kits and interactive programs that will help teachers to expand creative capacity of students. Airbus, according to the release, began production of the A320 aircraft in 2015 and launched production for the A220 single-aisle passenger jets in 2019. A new production line for the aircraft also opened that year. The company has invested more than $1 billion into the plant, the release said. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Alabama earns high marks for business climate
Alabama’s workforce development and talent attraction programs ranked No. 2.
