Region 1 Workforce Development Council

RUSSELLVILLE, AL – The Region 1 Alabama Workforce Development Council was called to order by Chairman Grady Batchelor at 11:30 a.m. at the Franklin County Department of Human Resurces office.  The roll was called by Joy Pace-Isom and a quorum was present.  The minutes of the previous meetng held May 14, 2009 were adopted and approved.  A report was provided by Sarah Horton of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development updating the Council on several key upcoming dates associated with th3 2009 approval process an also matters related to the stimulus funds.  Proposals had been prior to the meetng and reviewed by the propoal review committee to ensure the proposals meet the criteria set forth by the Council and to make recmmendations to  the Council.  The following proposals were submitted, recommended for approval by the proposal review committee, and subsequently approved by the Council.

• Northwest-Shoals Community College – “Ready to Work Program”
• Northwest-Shoals Community College – “Automotive Service Technology for the 21st Century”
• Northwest-Shoals Community Cllege/Colbert Cunty Schools/Colbert Heights High School – “Articulated/Dual Enrollment Welding Program”
• Northwest-Shoals Community College – “Phil Campbell Campus Multi-Skilled Traiing Center”
• Northwest-Shoals Community College – “Tuition Payment Program for Career Technical, Dual Enrollment/Dual Credit Students”
• Bevill State Community College – “Career Technical Dual Enrollment”
• Bevill State Community Cllege – “Career Coahces Initiative”

Grady Batchelor will be attending and participating in the State Proposal Review Meeting at the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development on August 3, 2009. 

Grady Batchelor thanked NACOLG for providing lunch and Jerry Groce, Director of the Franklin County Human Resource Department, for providing the facility.

The next meeting will be determined based on proposals and state timelines.

From L to R: Gary Warren, Senator Roger Bedford, Grady Batchelor

Mayors, Council Members, County Commissioners, Educators, and Economic Developers gathered in Guin, Alabama today to share with Senator Roger Bedford and Representative Mike Millican areas the group identified as key regional workforce development initiatives. 

Mayor Phil Seagraves of Guin welcomed the group to Guin and the Guin High School then turned the meeting over to David Logan of Alabama Power Company.  Mr. Logan shared with the group concerning the ongoing effort to identify key initiatives in workforce development and the importance of doing such for the area.  Logan then asked Grady Batchelor to share with the group the priorities for the region.

Grady Batchelor, Chairman of the Region 1 Workforce Development  Council, shared with the group the priorities for the region identified at an earlier meeting of regional Mayors, Council Members, County Commissioners, Educators, and Economic Developers which was held in Hamilton on February 16, 2009.  The priorities were as follows:

1.       There is an urgent need to address the dropout rates in our region.
 
 2.       We need to work together regionally toward a common purpose regarding workforce and economic development. Batchelor shared, “The economic developers and community colleges have already begun to work together on some priority workforce initiatives, recruiting, marketing and promotions.”  The economic developers have a joint website located at www.Interstate22Alliance.com. 

3.       We need to educate regional constituents, career counselors, educators, school administrators, and legislators on the importance and impact of career/technical education on workforce and economic development and the long term sustainability of our region.

- We need to identify career choices earlier (e.g., seventh and eighth grade)
- We need to retain career/technical education in our schools
- We need more career awareness
- We need more counselors
- We need counselors that understand the role of career  and technical education in our region

4.       We need funds for a grant writer to go after workforce and economic dollars.
 
5.       We need to hold an industry/education day.

Gary Warren, Member of the Alabama State Board of Education, shared the importance of dual enrollment to the area and the need to keep the program funded.  Warren also shared his concerns and the need to keep vocational and technical school programs funded.  Warren shared the funds to support the high academic achievers and special needs children will be made available, but maintaining vocational and technical programs will require effort and commitment to funding such programs. Warren shared not all children are going to college and we need to provide vocational and technical programs to train tomorrow’s workforce. 

Senator Roger Bedford shared how the funding cash flow works in the state and how the economy impacts the flow of funds.  Senator Bedford noted to change the funds available we either increase the funding sources or we must develop a better delivery process such as distance learning or other methods.

ADECA is offering free grant writing seminars

HAMILTON – The Governor’s Rural Action Committee and the Hamilton Career Center will be is sponsoring a free grant writing seminar, “A Toolbox to Successful Grants”. The workshop will be presented by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.

In Franklin County, the seminar is scheduled for Monday, March 16th, and will be held at Northwest-Shoals Community College in Phil Campbell in the Student Activities Center (Building 305).

In Winston County, the seminar is scheduled for Thursday, March 26th, and will be held at the Double Springs Municipal Building (formerly the National Guard Armory).

“This seminar is not for a particular group of people, but will be very general. It will provide the basic guidelines and tools necessary for a business or organization to apply for a grant. It will be helpful for any local government or non-profit agency looking to apply for state or federal funds. Applying for grants can be a very difficult process and this free seminar can help explain the process and regulations involved when applying for a grant.

The seminars will be from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and a light lunch will be provided. Individuals can attend either workshop, but space is limited. For more information or to register, interested persons may contact Lesa Williams at the Hamilton Career Center at 921-5672 Ext. 24 or by email at Lesa.Williams@adeca.alabama.gov.

grant-writing-seminar

Agenda

1. Welcome
2. State of the Workforce Presentation by Nisa Miranda, Director University Center for Economic Development and Tonya Lee, Department Industrial Relations – Labor Market Information
3. The Alabama Career Center System by Susan Norman, Associate Director of Field Services, GOWD
4. The Alabama Community College System by Amy Brabham, Associate Director Business & Community Services, GOWD

Grady Batchelor presenting Community Leadership Training at BSCC

Forty-five community leaders from Fayette, Lamar, Marion, Pickens, and Walker Counties gained economic development training through Bevill State Community College’s interactive inter-campus television system.  Connecting the Economic Development Association of Alabama’s revised training program to community leaders using BSCC’s distance learning capacity was sparked by Karla Quesenberry, one of the WAEM Initiative…>>more.

Available in PDF format: Community Leaders Receive Training Via BSCC Distance Learning