(L) ARAC (R) Goveror Bob Riley; Margaret Bentley, State Co-Chair; Gerald Dial, Executive Director of ARAC; and Grady Batchelor, Chair of the Corridor X / I-22 Commission

MONTGOMERY, AL – Grady Batchelor, Chair of the Corridor X / I-22 Commission presented a regional report to Governor Bob Riley and the Alabama Rural Action Commission (ARAC). The report addressed the three key areas where the Corridor X / I-22 Commission focused its efforts 2008-2009. The primary focus has been on economic development, workforce development, and leadership development. We have worked to leverage our efforts across multiple initiatives across multiple communities to achieve more.

Our joint Economic Development and Workforce Development Committee has worked on several projects including:

- Formation of the I-22 Alliance (http://www.interstate22alliance.com) comprised of the economic developers from Fayette, Franklin, Marion, Lamar, Pickens, Walker and Winston counties to conduct joint operations for recruiting purposes.

- Collectively we have been planning and engaging in joint marketing activities such as running advertisements and attending trade shows prospecting for recruitment opportunities and future projects.

- Worked with Bevill State Community College to create a tool and dye program.

– Submitted grant application to the Department of Labor in support of a tool and dye program for training workers for a future focus for our area.

– Visited with several tool and dye and automotive manufacturing subject experts about doing a tool and dye program.

– Traveled to Detroit to tour a tool and dye facility and a world class tool and dye program at a community college in Canada.

Teamed with Karla Quesenberry, Bevill State Community College, and the Wired Alabama East Mississippi initiative to present several sessions of the Economic Development Association of Alabama’s (EDAA) Community Leadership Training (CLT) via distance learning to several sites across northwest Alabama.

More information on this meeting will be posted in the future.