One of Alabama’s largest employers is looking for new workers, and a $297,000 grant announced by Gov. Robert Bentley will help that happen.
The Appalachian Regional Commission grant awarded to Auburn University at Montgomery will help establish an entry-level certification program for people seeking careers in forestry.
“Timber is big business in Alabama, and the range of jobs involving forestry is immense,” Bentley said. “This program will help students and others to examine the fields available in the forestry industry and find rewarding careers in a fascinating vocation.”
Despite some economic setbacks in recent years, the forestry industry employs more than 122,000 people in Alabama and industry leaders expect a shortage of workers in the business as many people approach retirement age. In addition, advancements in technology have changed many forestry methods creating the need for additional training.
AUM will team up with the Alabama Forestry Association to develop a certification program to help high school students qualify for jobs in the forestry industry immediately after graduation and assist people already employed in the industry with advancement opportunities. The program will combine on-site instruction with web-based materials.
Other partners in the program will be the Alabama State Department of Education, the Alabama Forestry Commission, the Alabama State Parks system, USDA Forestry, Auburn and Tuskegee universities and forestry-related private corporations and businesses.
Bentley notified Dr. John Veres, AUM chancellor, that the grant has been approved.
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs administers the ARC program in Alabama.
Congress established the ARC in 1965 as a supplemental grant program to raise the standard of living, improve the quality of life and promote economic development in portions of the 13 Appalachian mountain states. Thirty-seven Alabama counties are part of the ARC area.
ADECA manages a range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, recreation, energy conservation and water resource management.
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Contact Jim Plott or Larry Childers