By Trent Moore
The Cullman Times
HANCEVILLE —
About two dozen local business and industry leaders met at Wallace State for an industry appreciation luncheon Friday, and President Vicky Hawsey and her staff used the opportunity to find out what the college can do to help spur job growth in Cullman County.
“We did this a few years ago, to include recommendations in our strategic plan, and now our plan is back up for review this year,” Hawsey said. “We wanted to bring everyone in to meet and talk and see what ideas they may have that we can implement.”
Hawsey said the college takes these recommendations very seriously, and even implemented a new course of study in recent years based on industry feedback.
“We developed our tool and die program in direct response to the need in our community,” he said.
One project that has been on the back burner for years is a standalone adult learning center, which Hawsey would like to embed in a city industrial park to provide easy access for employees.
“I’ve had a dream, going back to when we were competing for the robotics center [a state project that eventually settled in Morgan County in 2008],” she said. “I’d love to see us develop an adult learning center, maybe even in the heart of one of the industrial parks. So, if employees needed an additional skill set, employees could send them on their lunch break, or briefly after work.”
Peggy Smith, director of the Cullman Economic Development Agency, said events like Friday’s luncheon serve as a great catalyst to keep camaraderie and growth in the minds of local business leaders.
“I think it gives us an opportunity to get people with a common interest in the same room to talk and look at ways we can partner together for workforce training,” she said. “Wallace State is such a critical tool for us to have in this community, and it’s just such an asset. It helps so much with the recruitment of new industries, as well as the retention of existing industry.”
Wallace State Dean of Applied Technologies Jimmy Hodges said the college offers numerous programs that fit the needs of local companies.
“Our ultimate goal is to satisfy all your training needs,” he said. “We can help when you interview potential employees, or have someone within your facility and they need additional training.”
Alabama Technology Network Director Perry Shields, whose state agency is a partner with Wallace State, said specialized training is also available for local companies.
“We can do training customized for what you ask us for, even down to the equipment you use,” he said. “We’re pooling resources from around the state to meet whatever needs you have. That’s what we’re here for.”
* Trent Moore can be reached by e-mail at trentm@cullmantimes.com, or by telephone at 734-2131, ext. 220.
