September 25 - 26, 2013
What does it take to have a successful future? That's the question that was asked of 9,800 area eighth graders in September of 2012 at the third annual SAWDC Worlds of Opportunity Career Expo. At the 2012 event, public and private school students visited the Mobile Civic Center over the course of a two-day period for a hands-on, interactive career exploration experience led by business professionals from twelve key South Alabama industries. The resounding message to students attending this event is that there are three ingredients to success: graduate from high school, remain drug free, and the lifestyle choices of today will have a direct impact on future success.
SAWDC Awarded NFWS Grant
The Southwest Alabama Workforce Development Council (SAWDC) has been awarded a National Fund for Workforce Solutions (NFWS) Grant in the amount of $300,000 over two years. This Social Innovation Fund (SIF) investment will allow SAWDC to establish and support four fully functioning workforce partnerships supporting the following industries: maritime, aerospace, healthcare, and process manufacturing.
The National Fund for Workforce Solutions is an award-winning national initiative focused on helping low-wage workers obtain good careers while at the same time ensuring that employers have the high-quality skills that will enable them to succeed in this highly competitive economy.
Read more about the National Fund for Workforce Solutions.
SAWDC, one of thirty-two nationally designated National Fund for Workforce Solutions (NFWS) sites, has established four high quality workforce partnerships - a sound strategy modeled by NFWS for helping individuals obtain and advance in good careers while at the same time ensuring that employers have high-quality skills that are needed to compete in today's dynamic economy. The four industry clusters - aviation, maritime, industrial construction/manufacturing, and healthcare - were chosen due to the high demand and high growth prospects for these industries. With a dual customer approach, SAWDC convenes, organizes key stakeholders, and maintains persistent attention to the needs of the two main customers: employers and workers. By engaging employers and other partners in identifying workforce needs, SAWDC aligns funding from various sources and brokers services that address the career advancement needs of employers and lower-skilled adults.
The solutions extend beyond training or education programs. SAWDC identifies better ways to provide these services and progammatic improvements to systems or policies. The resulting job training and career supports that meet the needs of both employers and employees in these four industry clusters has proven critical to the region's economy. To read more, click here.
Region 9 Community College Grant Deadlines
FY2013 Round 3 and FY2014 Round I
Applications for funds to address local workforce development needs are accepted for consideration twice a year. Proposed activities must support preparing individuals to enter employment or advance in high-wage, high-demand occupations and must align with the Workforce Development Councils of Alabama regional strategies and occupational needs. Priority will be given to projects that address specific and immediate training/hiring needs.
Only entities under the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) may be recipients of Department Postsecondary Education state workforce development funds; non-ACCS training service providers are eligible to receive these funds if partnered with an ACCS entity for fiscal agent services.
June 5, 2013
Presentation to the Full Council
at the SAWDC Quarterly Council Meeting
July 5, 2013
Applications Due To SAWDC By COB
July 19, 2013
Grants Review Committee
August 7, 2013
Applications Due To GOWD
For grant resources including application forms and guidelines,
click here.
