Three New Local Projects Will Support Workforce Development

Funding finalized by Governor Kay Ivey on June 1 will bring several new projects to our area that will help with workforce development. Those projects include a $30 million electric vehicle training center facility that will be affiliated with the Robotics Technology Park, a $30 million advanced manufacturing training facility at Calhoun Community College and a $19 million dance and music studio in downtown Decatur as part of the Alabama Center for the Arts.

The electric vehicle training center will be a standalone facility on state-owned property immediately south of the existing Robotics Training Park on U.S. 31. It will be entirely funded from the recently passed supplemental budget and could be completed in 18 months.

A 55,000-square-foot advanced manufacturing facility will be built on the north end of Calhoun's Decatur campus and connected to the existing Advanced Technology Center building. It will house a robotic welding program, advanced machining instruction, some of the industrial maintenance program and short-term training customized to local industries.

The downtown dance and music studio at First Avenue Northeast and Moulton Street will be part of the Alabama Center for the Arts. Decatur City Schools will also be a partner in the venture, which will especially cater to dual enrollment students. According to the Decatur Daily, Senator Arthur Orr said City Council members have informally supported his proposal that they will give the parking lot, across the street from a city parking deck that is being built, to Calhoun for the project.

State budgets will also fund a mental health crisis center, renovations to the original Morgan County courthouse in Somerville and renovations at Athens State University. Click here to read the full article from the Decatur Daily.