Chat with us! Chat
West AlabamaWorks! is Helping Students Find Jobs

West AlabamaWorks! is Helping Students Find Jobs

Tuscaloosa County leaders have come up with a clever way to help students get connected with jobs.  Starting soon students in all six of the Tuscaloosa County high schools will be ...
Read More
West AlabamaWorks Gets $3,000 Grant for its Educator Workforce Academy

West AlabamaWorks Gets $3,000 Grant for its Educator Workforce Academy

Enterprise Mobility Foundation has given a grant of $3,000 to West AlabamaWorks in support of Educator Workforce Academy. Educator Workforce Academy is a supported guide to help connect educators and the workforce in better ...
Read More
Educator Workforce Academy awarded grant to help bridge the gap between businesses, schools

Educator Workforce Academy awarded grant to help bridge the gap between businesses, schools

A group tasked with helping businesses address workforce needs in west Alabama has been rewarded for doing a good job, receiving a grant that will make on of its signature programs ...
Read More
‘Pathways to Hope’ grant to support women in Aliceville Federal Prison

‘Pathways to Hope’ grant to support women in Aliceville Federal Prison

Thanks to a collaborative effort between West AlabamaWorks!, the Alabama Department of Commerce-Workforce Development Division, and Ingram State Technical College, female inmates at Alliceville Federal Prison have more hope for a ...
Read More
West AlabamaWorks Nets $3K Grant For Educator Workforce Academy

West AlabamaWorks Nets $3K Grant For Educator Workforce Academy

West AlabamaWorks on Tuesday announced it has received a $3,000 grant from the Enterprise Mobility Foundation to support its Educator Workforce Academy (EWA).
Read More
West Alabama students to explore job opportunities to jumpstart their post-graduation career

West Alabama students to explore job opportunities to jumpstart their post-graduation career

Thousands of west Alabama students will get a firsthand look Thursday of what could be their future career. West Alabama Works is hosting the Worlds of Work event at Shelton State Community ...
Read More

Worlds Of Work Expo returns this week to Shelton State

The seventh-annual Worlds of Work (WOW) Career Expo will bring industry leaders and education partners together with more than 4,000 students from west Alabama to Shelton State Community College this week. “We’re giving ...
Read More

New class graduates from Educator Workforce Academy

Dozens of adults completed the West Alabama Works’ Educator Workforce Academy program, showing that Worlds of Work, or WOW, isn’t just about kids. West Alabama Works successfully completed their eighth WOW ...
Read More
The WOW Factor: West Alabama students flock to career expo

The WOW Factor: West Alabama students flock to career expo

The 2023 Worlds of Work Career Expo aimed to put some fun into choosing a line of work for ninth-grade students in West Alabama. "It's like the Disney World of workforce," said Donny ...
Read More
Worlds of Work Expo gets high-schoolers in front of future careers

Worlds of Work Expo gets high-schoolers in front of future careers

West AlabamaWorks‘ Worlds of Work event is back at Shelton State Community College this week, offering West Alabama’s ninth-graders a hands-on look at some of the jobs waiting for them when ...
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