U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt and NW-SCC President Dr. Humphrey Lee were joined by state, local and collegiate officials last Thursday for the unveiling of the new Injection Molding Technology building on the Shoals campus. Photo by Matt Wilson.

By Matt Wilson

For the FCT

State and local officials gathered at the new Injection Molding Technology building on the Shoals campus of Northwest-Shoals Community College Aug. 22 to announce the opening of the new training facility.

The former auto-body repair shop was transitioned to a state-of-the-art injection molding facility where students from the Northwest Alabama area will learn to operate equipment used in the production of products such as car body panels, decals and nameplates.

President of Northwest-Shoals Community College, Dr. Humphrey Lee, said he was glad to see the finished product.

“Industry representatives came to us,” Lee said.

“We got the funds together for the project and were able to renovate the old auto-body shop into this fantastic new facility. This will help us continue to train students and create a solid and dependable workforce in this area.”

Career and Technical Education Director for the Alabama Community College System, Gene Dudley, was excited for the students in the area to have access to the new equipment.

“This is the only stand-alone injection molding equipment in the state,” Dudley said.

“I can’t wait for the students to be able to work on state-of-the-art equipment.”

Tasus Corporation is one such employer that is constantly looking for skilled workers who are familiar with the injection molding equipment, according to plant manager Tony Zajacz.

“Right now we are starving for ready-to-work, skilled workers,” Zajacz said.

“This program will help to fill some of those needs.”

Steve Holt, president of the Shoals Chamber of Commerce, said he was glad to see the state officials, local officials, and the college all come together to make this happen.

“It’s always nice to see people doing the right thing for the right reason, but it is really great to see people doing the right thing at the right time,” Holt said, “and for us, especially in this area, this is the right time to have a project like this come together.”

U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt joked about politicians in Washington and Montgomery not always getting along or getting much done but said that seeing projects like this come together made him happy.

“Seeing this come to fruition is special,” Aderholt said.

“We try and fund programs like this and we try and make resources available for opportunities like this so that we can train students here in our state, and by doing so, bring jobs to Alabama.”

Lee said his college is willing and able to accommodate the needs of the students as well as the industries.

“We are caterers, not a fixed menu,” Lee said.

“We constantly try and see what kind of skills companies want students to learn. And then we try and bring those skills to the students.”