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U.S. Senator Katie Britt, R-Ala., on Wednesday joined state and local officials in her hometown of Enterprise to break ground on Enterprise State Community College’s (ESCC) Workforce Development Center.
The Workforce Development Center, located on ESCC’s Enterprise campus, is a partnership with the City of Enterprise. The center will address workforce training needs in Coffee County and the Wiregrass. It will house the ESCC’s Mechatronics (Advanced Manufacturing), Automotive, and Welding program, and it will provide opportunities for students to learn and develop skills in HVAC, plumbing, and more. Construction of the center is scheduled to be completed by Fall 2025. ESCC estimates 200-300 students per year will benefit from the new facility.
“I am excited to be here in my hometown to support this incredible vision ESCC and the City of Enterprise are bringing to life. This new workforce development center will open the doors of opportunity for so many students, establishing Enterprise as a leader in educating and equipping a 21st century workforce and cementing its status as the City of Progress,” said Senator Britt.
“This is a huge investment into our community—one that will pay dividends for years to come for students who enter these halls and learn, for the job creators who will gain access to new, skilled workers, for Coffee County, and for our entire state,” continued Senator Britt. “I am proud to support this project by being here today and securing funds for it at the federal level. On Aug 1, the Senate Appropriations Committee advanced the Fiscal Year 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act, which includes $1 million to ensure the students that will learn in this facility have access to state-of-the-art equipment, propelling them to bright futures.”
During her visit, Senator Britt delivered remarks and met with local K12 school representatives, ESCC Foundation Members, Alabama Community College System Members, industry representatives, and members of the local small business community.
Senator Britt was joined by ESCC President Danny Long, Alabama Community College System Chancellor Jimmy Baker, Mayor William E. Cooper, City Administrator Jonathan Tullos, State Senator Donnie Chesteen, State Senator Josh Carnley, State Representative Steve Clouse, State Representative Rhett Marques, State Representative Jeff Sorrells, and State Representative Marcus Paramore.
This summer, as a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Senator Britt secured $5.746 million in funding for the Alabama Community College System in the Fiscal Year 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act. Of this total funding, $1 million is for the purchase of new equipment for ESCC’s new Workforce Development Center. This bill now moves to the full Senate for consideration.