Chat with us! Chat
WEST ALABAMAWORKS GETS NATIONAL HONOR, $200,000 GRANT

WEST ALABAMAWORKS GETS NATIONAL HONOR, $200,000 GRANT

Read More
West Alabama Works gets national recognition, grant money for efforts in workforce development

West Alabama Works gets national recognition, grant money for efforts in workforce development

The effort to support businesses and help people find jobs is paying off in west Alabama. The Carnegie Corporation of New York recognized West Alabama Works for workforce development, educating youth, ...
Read More
West Alabama group receives national recognition, funding from Carnegie

West Alabama group receives national recognition, funding from Carnegie

10 organizations across the country were selected to receive $200,000 grants from the Carnegie Corporation in New York through its Profiles in Collective Leadership—and one of the those selected is right here ...
Read More
West Alabama Works hosts hiring event

West Alabama Works hosts hiring event

Looking for a job can be a job all on its own, that’s why West Alabama Works hosted a hiring event to help those looking for work in the community. Job ...
Read More
West Alabama Works seeking more employers for IGNITE summer jobs program

West Alabama Works seeking more employers for IGNITE summer jobs program

Summer is almost here and one group is working to find jobs for teenagers long before school is out. West Alabama Works started the IGNITE summer jobs program in 2022 and ...
Read More
WEST ALABAMAWORKS! GETS NATIONAL RECOGNITION & BIG GRANT FOR LOCAL IMPACT

WEST ALABAMAWORKS! GETS NATIONAL RECOGNITION & BIG GRANT FOR LOCAL IMPACT

A Tuscaloosa organization committed to growing, training and improving its workforce received national recognition Tuesday that comes with grant funding to boot. Donny Jones, the Chief Workforce Officer at the Chamber ...
Read More
West Alabama Works hosts quarterly workforce development summit

West Alabama Works hosts quarterly workforce development summit

Read More
New child care program at Shelton State

New child care program at Shelton State

he state of Alabama is currently facing a child care shortage problem. Industry leaders say there aren’t enough child care centers for children in need but that may soon change. Shelton ...
Read More
Job kiosk added to Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center

Job kiosk added to Tuscaloosa VA Medical Center

The Tuscaloosa VA and West Alabama Works are working closer than ever before to help veterans find jobs. West Alabama Works installed a special kiosk in Building 135 on the VA campus. It connects veterans ...
Read More
West AlabamaWorks! is Hiring

West AlabamaWorks! is Hiring

Read More

Success Stories

  • "West AlalabamaWorks! gave me something that I couldn't and didn't get from my own family. They helped me get into the online high school program where I had an academic coach who pushed and motivated me to never give up and to keep going. With that push, motivation, and support that was given to me, I was able to obtain my online high school diploma and my office management certificate at the same time. I can say that I've had opportunities and gained experience that I never had before. I know that without the help of those at West Al Works, I wouldn't be where I am, and as far as I am today. I am very appreciative and thankful for all of the support, motivation, and help from those at West Al Works. If y'all had never believed in me, I would not have believed in myself, and I wouldn't be as successful as I am today. Thank you!"

    Shakeitta Richardson

    Student

    Career Online High School Graduate, enrolled at Shelton State Community College

  • "I made it all the way to 12th grade but it was just too hard for me to finish. I had a lot of encouragement, but I felt like my daughter who is a 'total care child' was more important to me. I thought I'd never finish so I ended up trying to obtain my GED, but come to find out when I wanted to start Shelton the GED I thought I obtained was not accredited. So this program came about at such a perfect time.

    Do it, it’s the best thing. It’s a feeling of relief for me and it’s something I thought I would never have and through this program I was able to obtain it. So, it’s a dream come true, a total dream come true. Yes I'm 46, but I did it!"

    Felicia Stewart-Taylor

    High School Graduate at age 46

    Smart Horizon Career Online Education

  • "As a member of the Tuscaloosa and West Alabama community for more than 70 years, Phifer Incorporated is honored to be a proud supporter of West AlabamaWorks! The workforce development needs in our region required strong leadership, effective planning and the coordination of resources that result in solutions that meet the needs of business, industry and job seekers.  One of our effective solutions is the Ready-To-Work program provided by our local community colleges. We encourage job seekers that wish to change to a manufacturing career field to attend Ready-To-Work so they may succeed in their new career pathway."

    Russell DuBose

    Vice President of Human Resources

    Phifer Incorporated

  • "West AlabamaWorks! coordinates and engages all necessary resources to produce results that support the region needs and is an extremely important partner for the automotive industry in this region.  They fully support MBUSI and its Suppliers to find high-performing and engaged employees, dedicated to building the highest quality vehicles in a positive team culture. West AlabamaWorks! proactively drives effective actions, based on the collective needs of the region, by being the conduit to connect business and industry, government and educations leaders."

    Rolf Wrona

    Vice President of Human Resources

    Mercedes-Benz U.S. International

  • "One of the great things that the Educator Workforce Academy has done is allowing us, the educators, to go out and see what job opportunities are readily available in our communities so that people can actually go to work for a local company. This shows us, the educators, that this is what we need to be doing to give business and industry the opportunity they need by providing the type of workforce with the right skills, which provides our citizens good jobs and advancement opportunities to further develop the workforce in our community."

    Shawn McDaniel

    Principal

    Pickens County College and Career Center

  • "West AlabamaWorks! was a monumental part of my career. I want to thank them for having an event like WOW (Worlds of Work) and allowing me to be apart of it. I was able to learn about different career options at a crucial age when everyone asks "what's next? Now, I am a third year apprentice in the TJAC Local 372 Union working at McAbee Construction. This would not have been possible without having experienced WOW and WOW 2.0 and learning about opportunities right in town. I'm forever Grateful."

    Megan Coleman

    Apprentice

    Local 372 Pipefitters Union

  • “West AlabamaWorks! partnership with ARD has greatly benefited ARD's success by connecting us with the resources required in our hiring, training, governmental support for training, collaboration with educational programs, etc.  Donny Jones and his team are outstanding; check out West Alabama Works to meet your needs.”

    Bregitte Braddock

    General Manager

    ARD Logistics- Alabama, LLC

  • "West AlabamaWorks has had a tremendous impact on the education system in our region but on Tuscaloosa City Schools in particular. West AlabamaWorks has helped Tuscaloosa City Schools in facilitating the pipeline for students to either receive training at Shelton State Community College or move directly into the workforce."

    Kelly S. Norstrom

    Director of Career and Technical Education

    Tuscaloosa City Schools

  • "West AlabamaWorks! supports DCH and the Healthcare Cluster strategically in coordinating the development and recruitment of qualified and engaged employees.  Their ability to assist us in creative brainstorming and problem solving for viable workforce solutions is invaluable."

    Peggy Sease-Fain

    Vice President of Human Resources

    DCH Healthcare System

  • "Being innovative in our approach, being able to quickly satisfy a need is especially important if we’re going to meet the challenge and then exceed the challenge.  These factors make West AlabamaWorks one of the best because they can do all of these things."

    Ed Castile

    Deputy Secretary, Workforce Development Division, Director of AIDT

    Alabama Department of Commerce