By Samuel Mattison
Alabama Political Reporter
The National Governors Association Center for Best Practices chose Alabama to be one of six states to receive an educational grant for high-skill labor.
Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey announced the decision on Monday. The grant will establish a policy academy that is based on work-based learning designed to produce a skilled workforce.
“When I announced my Strong Start, Strong Finish education initiative, I made clear my desire to give Alabamians the best opportunities possible to obtain the skills necessary to be competitive in the workforce,” Ivey said. “I am thankful to the National Governors Association for choosing Alabama to work collaboratively with other states to develop concrete plans to develop our workforce.”
The group will focus on people ages 16-29 and will allow them to get experience in STEM fields, such as “health care, information technology and energy,” according to a statement from the Governor’s Office.
Ivey said the state needs to prepare Alabama’s workforce for the growing sectors in Alabama. The governor said the program will be a “key factor” to help encourage new businesses to come invest in Alabama.
“I am ever so grateful to those who helped secure this grant for Alabama; their work is going to help put other Alabamians to work,” Ivey said.
The other states that won the grant were Idaho, Illinois, Nevada, North Carolina, and Rhode Island.
