Alabama Southern Receives $366,810 for M3 Training Program

Alabama Southern has received $366, 810 for the Modern Multi-Skill Manufacturing (M3) Training Program from the Governor's Recovery Act Skills Training Program.

"This type of training is a necessary component of the recovery program for the recession that has devastated Monroe County and the surrounding counties in the Alabama Southern service area," said Dr. William O. Blow, Interim President. "Alabama Southern appreciates the opportunity and the support we have received to provide this short term occupational training."

The Modern Multi-skill Manufacturing (M3) Credential is a product of the West Alabama – East Mississippi (WAEM) Regional Initiative.  The WAEM Regional Initiative results from a Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.

The M3 Credential was developed by the workforce directors and career tech leaders at the eight WAEM Alliance colleges with input from local employers after a summit hosted by Governors Bob Riley and Haley Barbour chose advanced manufacturing as the WAEM region’s top priority. 

 The M3 training program will allow WIA eligible adults and dislocated workers identified by the Alabama Career Center System the ability to acquire the necessary industrial maintenance skills needed by new employees in an advanced manufacturing environment. By introducing the participants to the ten week course, these individuals have the opportunity to acquire the technical skills necessary to meet the employment demands of regional business and industry.

"In our partnership with Alabama Southern, the Alabama Career Center System agrees to identify dislocated workers for potential training," said Hal Clements, Coordinator of the Monroeville office of the Alabama Career Center System. "The M3 program will meet the standards of regional business and industry. With high unemployment and drastic layoffs and plant closures, it is vital to the economy of our area to have a trained workforce in order to prepare and attract new industry."

The M3 Training Program is intended to demonstrate a participant's degree of mastery over technical skills based on regional business and industry needs. The training program uses over 20 disciplines ranging from basic computer skills to mechanical drive system skills to educate the participants on the abilities needed to be competitive in the workforce.

"Alabama River Pulp is excited about the M3 Training Program funding," said Pete Black, Executive Vice President/General Manager of Alabama River Pulp. "The idea that Alabama Southern is partnering with the Alabama Career Center System to identify and train dislocated workers in an effort to produce well-trained workers and assist in creating a larger qualified technical labor pool further solidifies the notion that efforts are being made to remedy the economic issues facing Monroe County and other surrounding counties."