BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Federal, state and local officials gathered Monday in Mobile to celebrate a $30 million U.S. Navy investment in Alabama’s community colleges to expand training for submarine and shipbuilding jobs.
The funding will go to four colleges – Bishop State Community College in Mobile, Coastal Alabama Community College in Bay Minette, Reid State Community College in Evergreen and Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Opp – for facility upgrades, equipment and expanded training in maritime welding, structural fitting and pipefitting.
The Alabama Community College System said the investment is expected to more than double training capacity at those schools and eventually help produce more than 800 skilled trades workers a year.
The announcement came at the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf, where speakers described the investment as both an economic development opportunity and part of a broader national security effort tied to the Navy’s submarine production goals.
According to an ACCS news release, the Navy projects a need for 250,000 maritime manufacturing workers nationwide over the next decade and between 4,000 and 5,000 new maritime workers along the Alabama Gulf Coast over the next five years.
System Chancellor Jimmy Baker said the investment reflects confidence in the system’s ability to train workers for Alabama’s growing maritime industry and could create opportunities far beyond the four colleges receiving the initial funding.
In a statement included in the ACCS release, Gov. Kay Ivey said the investment is another milestone in Alabama’s push to expand submarine and shipbuilding training and create career opportunities for workers while supporting national defense.
Bishop State President Olivier Charles said the funding is meant to build the workforce needed for submarine construction while expanding opportunity for Alabama workers.
“Because when we get this right, what we’ll see is that we’ll have more submarines built,” Charles said. “We’ll see a stronger, more resilient workforce. We’ll see more Alabamians that are able to have and provide a sustainable income for their families, and ultimately, we are ensuring that our nation is safe.”
U.S. Rep. Shomari Figures, D-Mobile, said the investment would have effects well beyond the four campuses receiving the initial funding.
“This is going to change lives,” Figures said. “It is going to change thousands of lives.”
Alabama Workforce Secretary Greg Reed said the effort reflects collaboration among government, colleges and industry.
“No silos, not worried about who gets the credit, focused on resources that are able to be put to use for great men and women that are doing extraordinary work to promote Alabama and protect our nation,” Reed said.
Bradley Byrne, president and CEO of the Mobile Chamber, said the region’s maritime growth is already reshaping the local economy.
“When we invest in workforce, we are investing in people,” Byrne said. “And when we invest in our people, we strengthen our economy, we support our national security, and we build the long term opportunity for this region.”
The full press conference can be seen below.
Follow Us