How Do We Support Economic Development?

Our team is committed to supporting the site selection process by offering comprehensive, system-level workforce data and acting as a trusted resource for existing businesses seeking tailored solutions to meet their talent needs. We are actively involved in the following key initiatives:
  • Support economic development projects by providing up-to-date community college data and program offerings within the labor shed to assist with project-specific Requests for Information (RFIs) and site visits.
  • Serve as a vital resource for a wide range of economic development partners, including site selection consultants, The Alabama Department of Commerce, utility providers, local economic development authorities, and other key stakeholders as it relates to talent recruitment, development and retention.
  • Create customized marketing materials that highlight career pathways and industry-recognized credentials aligned with targeted industry sectors.
  • Cultivate and strengthen partnerships with statewide stakeholders while identifying funding opportunities that enable community colleges to develop or enhance programs aligned with local and state industry priorities.
  • Facilitate professional development opportunities to enhance collaboration, communication, and understanding between community college staff and economic development agencies.

Snead State Community College Workforce Center

Gadsden State Community College Workforce Center

Economic Development Team

Melody Whitten

Chief Economic Development Officer
[email protected]
256-558-4747

Madison Hadley

Economic Development Analyst
[email protected]
334-546-2326

Industry Sector Profiles

Explore the programming opportunities offered by the Alabama Community College System through the profiles below. Additional industry sectors will be added soon—stay tuned for updates!

ACCS by the Numbers

Additional Resources

The ACCS Innovation Center, a division of the Alabama Community College System, brings together the state’s community colleges, business and industry, and community partners to deliver rapid, industry-recognized non-credit training within some of the state’s most in-demand career fields. Curriculum is designed by industry sector subject matter experts with theory offered online and hands-on labs completed at colleges across the State. For a list of training programs currently offered and those in development, visit https://innovation.accs.edu/
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The Alabama Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (ALFAME) program is offered at eleven (11) community colleges across the State. By pairing students with industry while taking classes, they gain valuable employment experience as Advanced Manufacturing Technicians with industry hosts while completing an associate degree. Should companies choose to partner with an ALFAME chapter, the program may provide access to a unique pipeline of talent. For more information, visit https://www.accs.edu/fame-program/ or contact Audrey Webb.

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The Alabama Technology Network serves as the State’s only Manufacturing Extension Partnership and provides extensive workforce training, technical assistance, and engineering services in areas of continuous improvement, environmental health & safety, food industry, industrial maintenance & technology and leadership & management development.

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The mission of the Alabama Office of Apprenticeship is to expand the use of registered apprenticeships (RAs) and promote all forms of work-based learning for providing high-quality career training which will enable workers and employers to prosper in pursuit of the continued economic development of our state.
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