NWSCC ‘ready to assist’ Navy’s plans

MUSCLE SHOALS — U.S. Rep. Robert Aderholt said last week he expects Northwest Shoals Community College to get some of the federal government’s future funding to expand maritime workforce training.

NWSCC was not included in the first round of funding announced March 30 at the National Maritime Museum of the Gulf. Bishop State Community College in Mobile, Coastal Alabama Community College in Bay Minette, Reid State Community College in Evergreen and Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Opp were the selected schools to receive $30 million from the U.S. Navy.

While each of the four was chosen due to their proximity to the Port of Mobile, Bishop State is the only institution in the state with a maritime structural fitting programs and Coastal Alabama holds the lone pipe fitting program among community colleges. Given the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Hadrian facility in Barton last month, the fact NWSCC, which sits less than a halfhour away from the facility, was not included in this round of funding created cause for concern.

However, Aderholt, R-Haleyville, said the funds awarded March 30 were appropriated prior to Hadrian’s decision to locate its new facility in Barton.

In a statement, Aderholt said he “fully expects” future rounds of funding handed down through the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) and other federal sources to go to NWSCC and other institutions.

“As this transformative project moves forward, Northwest Shoals Community College, along with other colleges in north Alabama, will play a vital role in developing the skilled workforce needed to support it,” Aderholt stated in a release.

During the Hadrian ceremony on March 21, U.S. Navy Secretary John Phelan told reporters it would take 18 to 24 months to retrofit the former FreightCar America plant for production of the Columbia and Virginia classes of submarines.

Once the facility is up and running, it is expected to bring 1,000 jobs to the Shoals area.

All of Alabama’s 24 community colleges are likely to see some type of impact moving forward, ACCS Regional Workforce Director Jennifer Hall said in a statement. “We are intentionally highlighting these pathways to show current and prospective students that our programs position students for high-demand, well-paying careers that offer long-term stability, advancement opportunities and the pride of contributing to something greater than themselves.”

In a statement, NWSCC President Dr. Jeff Goodwin said the college is “ready to assist” with any training programs moving forward.

“Northwest Shoals Community College is excited to see the $30 million investment funded by the U.S. Navy to modernize and expand maritime workforce training,” Goodwin’s said in his statement. “The Alabama community colleges in the southern portion of the state are well positioned to lead these training efforts. Northwest Shoals stands ready to assist in any way needed by the Alabama Community College System”