Snead State Workforce Institute
A 50,000-square-foot facility built on property between Albertville and Guntersville is more than just glass, chrome, and polished concrete. It stands as the foundation for a commitment made by Snead State Community College to positively change the direction of the community, the county, and the state. Snead State Workforce Institute.
On Tuesday, Sept. 24, Snead State Community College welcomed more than 300 people to the new state-of-the-art Workforce and Career Institute to celebrate the training facility’s grand opening and the impact the facility will have on the lives of students who enter its doors. As the crowd gathered in one of the labs at the Workforce and Career Institute, they were able to see the realization of a dream that began in 2020.
“We are (assembled) just a few feet away from where we had our groundbreaking (for this facility) about 22 months ago, but the idea for the Workforce and Career Institute began in 2020 with a vision from (Alabama Community College System) Chancellor Jimmy Baker for a strategic planning process that he called ASPIRE 2030,” said Snead State Community College President Dr. Joe Whitmore.
Process
With a committee of about 47 people, including College employees and community members, Dr. Whitmore described the process that led the College to identify its direction for increasing its presence in career technical education. The result was a focus on offering needed skills training in Industrial Systems Technology, HVAC/R, Machine Tool Technology, and Welding Technology, as well as short-term non-credit workforce development opportunities, and to offer the training and education in a premier facility.
“I stood on this site with former Senator Clay Scofield, and we envisioned this building and talked about the impact it would have. We talked about the opportunities we could give people. We procured funding from the Governor’s office and the System office and supplemental funding from the Alabama Legislature. Congressman Robert Aderholt provided critical Federal funding for the purchase of essential equipment for the facility. In addition, the Marshall County Board of Education provided the land for the facility. It took a lot of teamwork, but if you don’t remember anything else I say today, you can remember this. We are in a $35 million facility that is going to make a difference in this county, and we did it without having to take on any debt,” said Dr. Whitmore.
Teamwork
“We are here to finish what we started (22) months ago. We’re finally inaugurating this beautiful…career learning institute. This state-of-the-art facility is the result of remarkable teamwork. The official opening is arriving right on time. Before a new high-tech industry builds a factory in Alabama, the first question they ask is, do you have the capability to train our workers? Well, thanks to all of you who contributed to making this important project a reality, we can say yes!” said Gov. Ivey.
“We’re in the business of providing a vehicle that makes life better for people. Talking about it solves nothing. It raises the issue of the need, but what is happening here today brings about change by providing opportunities so people can become skilled and knowledgeable about how to make things happen and come together to make a better community,” said Chancellor Baker.
Focus
Former Senator Clay Scofield, who now serves as Vice President for the Business Council of Alabama, described the new facility as the epitome of the focus he strived for as a legislator.
“We set our focus on legacy items – decisions and programs that will last for generations long after you forget who Clay Scofield was. There’s no greater legacy that we can leave than education. Giving them a skill that they can use to provide an honest living for them and their family is a great legacy,” he said.
Current Senator Wes Kitchens, a Snead State alumnus, agreed. “There is no doubt in my mind with the opening of this facility, Snead State is going to continue leading Alabama in workforce development and workforce training not only for the jobs of today, but for jobs of the future.”
ACCS Board of Trustees Chair Dus Rogers shared his excitement about the future of the Workforce and Career Institute. “We open our Board of Trustees meetings with a statement. We remain laser-focused on student success and remain true to our core mission of adult education, workforce development, and academic transfer education. Snead State’s workforce development efforts in Marshall County just got a lot more focused. The skills that are going to be taught here and the instructors who work here are in the life-changing business.”
Goal
“Our goal at Snead State is to impact lives. That’s what this building is designed for. That’s the dream we have. We want to impact lives, and for everyone we impact, we’re not just helping that person and their family make a difference. We’re giving them pride in what they do and giving them the opportunity to succeed. We’re impacting future generations, and that starts with everybody in this room,” said Dr. Whitmore.
Following the ribbon cutting ceremony, the Snead State Ambassadors led guests on a tour of the Workforce and Career Institute, during which they saw instructors and students at work in the classrooms and labs. The College Street Singers also performed before and after the ceremony. Those who participated in the ceremony were gifted with a unique commemorative coin designed by Snead State’s Machine Tool Technology Instructor Dewayne Harris and tooled by the Machine Tool students.
Source: https://snead.edu/