Focused on helping people find jobs… the University of West Alabama has opened the doors to its brand-new workforce development center.
“This is a huge announcement today. The state unemployment rate is 3.8 percent, but here in Sumter County it’s 4.7 percent. So, this workforce development center will go a long way in
providing people the necessary training to get the jobs of their dreams,” said Alabama Secretary of Labor Fitzgerald Washington.
Thursday was the ribbon cutting ceremony.
The workforce development center here at UWA offers various training opportunities in industries such as manufacturing, chemistry technology, automotive technology, and even healthcare. The purpose of the center is to help residents gain higher paying jobs and become productive members of society.
“Students, unemployed, and underemployed can move in and out, from certificate programs, to two-year associate degrees, to four-year degrees,” said UWA President Ken Tucker.
He added that the center will help bring economic growth to East Mississippi and West Alabama.
“To entice business and industry to come to a relatively impoverished area, we need to show several things. Obviously, you have to have the appropriate site, education, and healthcare opportunities, but you have to have a skilled workforce in order for business and industry to locate in your area.”
For more information about the job training programs available at the workforce development center, you can visit UWA’s website.
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