Alabama grabs No. 1 business climate ranking from publication
Business Facilities, an economic development-focused publication, ranked Alabama’s business climate tops among the states in a new analysis that examined performance in several key economic categories. The publication cited Alabama’s successful recruitment of the Toyota-Mazda joint venture automobile manufacturing plant to illustrate the state’s appeal. The project, announced in January 2018, calls for a $1.6…
Alabama Aviation Training Center plays key role in aerospace growth
MOBILE, Alabama — A key ingredient to the success of Alabama’s Airbus jet manufacturing facility is an innovative advanced training center built by the state to boost the aerospace industry workforce. The $7 million Alabama Aviation Training Center, which opened in 2014 at Mobile Aeroplex, is operated by the state’s top worker training agency, AIDT, and…
Success Plus initiative aims to add 500,000 high-skill workers
MOBILE, Alabama — A new strategic workforce development initiative targets the addition of 500,000 high-skilled employees to Alabama’s workforce by 2025 in response to increasing employer demands for the higher levels of talent needed in modern workplaces. Representatives of the Alabama Workforce Council, a group of high-level business leaders from across the state, presented Governor…
GE Aviation managers in growing Alabama plant share training duties
AUBURN, Alabama — Joseph Moore works days on the shop floor at GE Aviation’s fast-growing jet engine factory in Auburn – then teaches his experiences at night in the classroom. He’s one of several operations managers at GE’s Auburn site with a teaching role during the month-long vocational training sessions at Southern Union State Community…
Alabama metro ranks No. 1 for manufacturing jobs, analysis says
The Talladega-Sylacauga Micropolitan Statistical Area was rated the best place in the U.S. for manufacturing jobs in a detailed analysis by SmartAsset, a financial technology company that studied data on nearly 500 cities. SmartAsset singled out the high concentration of well-paying manufacturing jobs in Talladega-Sylacauga area in its analysis. Here’s what the firm says about…
Alabama community colleges to offer manufacturing credentials
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama — Governor Kay Ivey announced today that the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) will begin offering nationally recognized credentials in manufacturing skills at all its colleges this spring. The program, in partnership with the Manufacturing Skills Standards Council (MSSC), will make Alabama the first state in the nation to offer the industry credentials…
Job training programs fuel growth of Alabama auto industry
BIRMINGHAM, Alabama – Alabama’s worker training efforts have helped build the state auto industry into a juggernaut, and the growth shows no signs of slowing. Worker training agency AIDT’s success can be attributed to its talented staff, as well as state leaders who provide resources and flexibility for them to do their jobs well, said…
AIDT teams with Lockheed Martin for new Alabama training facility
TROY, Alabama – Lockheed Martin has opened a new onsite training at the company’s Pike County Operations site that was made possible with the help of AIDT, the state’s primary workforce development agency. The Advanced Manufacturing & Technology Center is a $2 million project funded by AIDT, which is part of the Alabama Department of…
Gallup: Alabama has nation’s most engaged workforce
MONTGOMERY, Alabama – A new Gallup poll finds that Alabama has the nation’s highest percentage of “engaged” workers who are enthusiastic about their jobs. Gallup’s survey found that 37 percent of Alabama workers are engaged, ahead of Delaware, Kentucky and Louisiana at 36 percent and nine other states at 35 percent. The U.S. average was…