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Greetings!

 

Here is today's summary of economic development news, a free service of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, representing Alabama's private sector investment in economic development.  If you enjoy NewsFlash, thank an EDPA Partner

 

In this issue:
Wallace College participating in $10 million welding grant program.
Program boosts young entrepreneurs Class will teach students in grades 6-12 how to develop their ideas into businesses
Official: Workforce changing...Director says career tech options should change with demand
SEDA recommends $385,000 for TASUS project
2012 Innovation and Entrepreneurship Conference


 

 

Wallace College participating in $10 million welding grant program

 

By: JIM COOK
Dothan Eagle 
Published: September 20, 2012

Wallace Community College, along with four other Alabama and Florida community colleges, will participate in a $10 million grant program to provide area residents with greater opportunities to learn welding, a high-demand job skill for this region.

 

The four colleges will use mobile welding training labs to bring welding training programs to rural areas and small towns. Each of the five colleges - Wallace, Lurleen B. Wallace Community College, Northwest Florida State College, Pensacola State College and Chipola College - will receive a mobile welding lab that they can use to bring welding training programs to businesses seeking to train employees or to communities seeking to provide welding training to local residents.

 

"We're excited about the opportunity to serve them and make a difference in their lives," Wallace Community College President Linda Young said.

 

Welding has been identified as a high-demand career field for the area, with high job and wage growth for the foreseeable future. Not enough people in the local work force are able to meet the growing demand, however, necessitating the grant program to help develop the local labor pool.

 

more...


 

[Dothan Eagle]



 

Program boosts young entrepreneurs Class will teach students in grades 6-12 how to develop their ideas into businesses

Staff report
Published: Friday, September 21, 2012 at 3:30 a.m. 

TUSCALOOSA | A new program designed to get middle and high school students interested in entrepreneurship is being started at the University of Alabama in partnership with the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama.


Applications for the local Young Entrepreneurs Academy program are available at www.tuscaloosachamber.com. Contact Loo Whitfield at 205-391-0563 or [email protected] for more information.

Known as the Young Entrepreneurs Academy, the program will teach students to take their ideas and develop them into a business.

 

"We are excited to be able to advance the business education of middle and high school students through this innovative new program," said Jim Page, the chamber's president and CEO, in a statement. "We are urging local businesses, both large and small, to become involved and act as mentors by volunteering as field trip hosts or being guest lecturers."

 

The Young Entrepreneurs Academy is open to students in grades 6-12. Students will meet from 4-7 p.m. on Mondays from November through May at UA's AIME Building. Tuition is $395, which will include books and supplies. Some scholarships based on need and merit will be available.

 
more...

[Tuscaloosa News]

 






Official: Workforce changing
Director says career tech options should change with demand

By Jennifer Edwards

9/21/12 

 

MUSCLE SHOALS - Career technical education doesn't mean the same thing it did 20 years ago. As industry and job demands change, so should the programs being taught to high school students in career tech courses.

 

That was the message of Phillip Cleveland, director of the office of career technical education and workforce development in the Alabama Department of Education. Cleveland met with administrators and board members from the Muscle Shoals school district.

 

Cleveland is touring the state to work with career tech education programs to better utilize the funds and human resources allocated to career tech. He told representatives of the Muscle Shoals system they are in a unique situation - with a new career tech complex nearing construction - to custom build a set of programs to best train students to enter the workforce.

 

The discussion the district is knee-deep in now centers on how large of a facility is needed and what the district can afford. Plans now are drawn for a base building that would include six programs and could be expanded to house up to 10 programs.

 

The district still has not made a decision on the size of the new building, though Superintendent Jeff Wooten said last week he anticipates construction to begin in January.


more...






SEDA recommends $385,000 for TASUS project

By Bernie Delinski
9/20/12

FLORENCE - The Shoals Economic Development Authority Board on Wednesday recommended dedicating up to $385,000 toward a project that will allow TASUS Corp. to build in the Florence-Lauderdale Industrial Park.

 

TASUS, a Japanese auto parts supplier, announced last week it plans to build a plant at the park in a $19.1 million investment that will provide 135 jobs.

 

The recommendation goes to the Shoals Industrial Development Committee for consideration during a called meeting Tuesday, SEDA Vice President Susie Heird said.

 

The company, which is a major supplier for North American Lighting's Muscle Shoals plant, will start with about 15 employees at a temporary site in November, TASUS President Melanie Hart said. She said plans call for the 104,000-square-foot permanent structure to be in operation by October 2013.

 

North American Lighting's Muscle Shoals plant manufactures headlights and taillights for numerous auto makers including Honda and Toyota.

 

more...

 

[Times Daily]


 


 

2012 Innovation Conference  

 

LESS THAN TWO WEEKS LEFT TO REGISTER!  

Website: www.innovatealabama.com

Place: Wynfrey Hotel, Birmingham, Ala.

  

$250.00 - Full Conference for October 2 & 3:  

$75.00  - Oct. 2 Dinner Event Only   

$175.00 - Oct. 3 Full Conference Day Only

 

Click For: 

Registration

Speakers

Sponsors




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Val Walton
   
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