Made in Alabama: New $30 million EV training center will support auto industry growth

MONTGOMERY, Alabama — Governor Kay Ivey announced today that Alabama is building a $30 million workforce training center in Decatur that will focus on electric vehicles and emerging technologies in order to position the state’s auto industry for the next chapter of its growth.

The facility will be located on the campus of the Alabama Robotics Technology Park, a unique $73 million center operated by AIDT that helps companies train workers on advanced R&D and manufacturing technologies.

“Alabama is already a recognized leader in workforce development, and this training center concentrating on EVs and new technologies will add an important dimension to our capabilities,” Governor Ivey said.

“This investment shows that we’re fully committed to making Alabama an even greater force in the global auto industry in the future.”

AIDT Director Ed Castile said design work has begun on the planned facility, which is projected to span 40,000 square feet at Robotics Park, where there is room for growth on 40 available acres.

The training center is expected to be operational in 18 to 24 months.

“Our main goal is to help the state’s automakers continue to grow during the transition to electric powertrains and assist them as they embrace new technologies that are evolving all the time,” said Castile, who also serves as Deputy Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce.

“We just want to make sure we have workforce that has the ability to thrive in this new environment, so it’s a natural extension of what we do at Robotics Park.” ...

Read the whole article