Governor Bentley Announces Grants for Central Alabama Community College

By: Jake Jacobs, Aide-de-Camp & Public Affairs Specialist

ALEXANDER CITY (Governor’s Office) – Governor Robert Bentley on Thursday visited the Central Alabama Community College (CACC) in Alexander City where he announced two Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) grants for the Alexander City and Childersburg campuses. The Governor joined CACC President Susan Burrow along with state and local leaders as he announced grants totaling over $1 million followed by a tour of the facility that will be updated as a result of funds provided by the grants.

“Bridging the gap between the education system and the private sector is prioritized in my Great State 2019 Plan,” Governor Bentley said. “Grants like this are crucial to providing our students with the training and skills they need to compete in today’s evolving workforce. The benefits from these grants will be realized here in Alexander City and in Childersburg, but also across the state throughout our leading industry sectors.”

The first grant, totaling $150,000 will go toward expansion of an instructional classroom facility. These funds will also be used to purchase new equipment for students learning in the areas of advanced manufacturing, carpentry, logistics, and healthcare. This facility, located on the Alexander City campus, provides student and incumbent workers advanced manufacturing and other skills training for high-skilled/high-pay careers in growing sectors.

The second grant totaling $696,894 has matching sources providing $298,669 which will bring the grant total to $995,563. The grant will replace the roof on an existing building that houses the Central Alabama Community College machine shop training program at the Childersburg campus. The facility will also be further equipped with electronics, automation, programmable logic controllers (PLC), robotics, Wire EDM, Additive Manufacturing/3-D printing, motor controls, and other training equipment. These additions through the $995,563 grant will allow the college to offer more courses that prepare students to work in local automobile supplier manufacturers.

The Appalachian Regional Commission was created by Congress in 1965 to bring the 13 Appalachian states into the mainstream of the American economy. The Commission is a partnership of federal, state, and local governments, and was created to promote economic growth and improve the quality of life in the 13-state region stretching along the Appalachian Mountains. 37 counties in Alabama fall under the ARC footprint. Governor Bentley is the first governor to be elected as Co-Chair of the ARC twice, serving in 2012 and 2014.

“By gaining the skills needed for careers in high-demand occupations like welding and automotive manufacturing, Alabamians can secure a job and a brighter future for themselves and their families,” ADECA Director Jim Byard Jr. said.  “ADECA is pleased to play a role in this partnership with Governor Bentley, the Appalachian Regional Commission and Central Alabama Community College to establish and expand these valuable programs that will teach many Central Alabama students the skills needed by our employers.”

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