ATHENS – Thanks to a $245,400 grant, high school students in Limestone County will gain simulated job-site experience as they train for careers in commercial construction
The Limestone County Board of Education will use the funds from the Appalachian Regional Commission grant to create a simulated job site that will give students at the Industrial Construction Academy hands-on experience in a controlled environment.
“This training program will provide a safe setting for students to experience first-hand a real-world job site for in-demand trades,” Gov. Kay Ivey said today in announcing the grant. “It will prepare students from all backgrounds for future skilled careers and will improve their chances of landing a good job upon graduation.”
The simulated job site will be a 24-square-foot by 60-square-foot structure designed to replicate a real construction site. The facility will offer hands-on experience in trades including plumbing, electrical work, masonry, HVAC, drafting, welding and building construction.
“Alabama, like the rest of the country, has a great need for workers in skilled trades,” ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell said. “This job training site will not only help the state fill that need, but it will also open up a world of opportunities for students looking to build great careers.”
Ivey notified Dr. Randy Shearouse, superintendent of the Limestone County Board of Education, that the grant had been approved.
ARC is an economic development agency of the federal government and 13 state governments. The agency’s mission is to innovate, partner and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation. Thirty-seven Alabama counties, including Limestone County, are part of the ARC region and eligible for funds.
ADECA manages a range of programs that support law enforcement, economic development, recreation, energy conservation and water resource management.
