Workforce Training & Development

DCEDA realizes the importance of workforce development in promoting careers in manufacturing and technical fields to our community as well as working with our existing industry to insure that they have the trained workers they need. DeKalb County is in region one of the Regional Workforce Council, so visit NorthAlabamaWorks (NAW) for more details.

NAW Workforce Training Resources Guide shows how an industry can train and provide skill upgrades. With the advances that are being made in the manufacturing process, the skills necessary to perform the jobs in many cases now require education beyond high school through a technical certificate or degree. Visit the Resources page of AlabamaWorks! for a full overview of all the workforce training and financial funding available for employers, veterans, students, and job seekings a like.

Northeast Alabama Community College, Fort Payne & Rainsville Career Centers, local school systems, chambers of commerce and local industry leaders have given us the opportunity to work with them as partners in addressing the skills required to prepare the students to enter the workforce prepared for careers to address the needs of our industry. Northeast Alabama Community College is able to provide dual-enrollment classes to area students in career and technical education while they are completing their high school education.

Northeast Alabama Community College Office of Workforce Development: Workforce Development | Northeast Alabama Community College (nacc.edu) Dean Kerry Wright.

High School Initiatives

Dream It Do It

If you can Dream It You can Do IT – Careers in Manufacturing. The National Association of Manufacturers developed this program through the Center for Workforce Success in order to be able to reach out to young adults, their parents, educators, their communities, and their policy-makers to change their minds about manufacturing's future and its careers. The perfect job is out there for our emerging workforce. The DIDI Program is here to help.

Visit Dream It do It Alabama to learn more.

Career Coaches

Working in partnership with the Alabama Region 2 Workforce Council and the five community colleges in Region 2 a grant was received through the Governor’s Office of Workforce Development for Career Coaches to be placed at the five community colleges in Region 2 to assist the counselors at our local high schools in providing students in the 8th - 12th grade with career awareness programs. This is a tremendous program for our area with the students being able to learn about education requirements, career opportunities and taking part in career assessments to better prepare them for their future. The Career Coaches are going out into the industries to learn hands on what trade skills and education their jobs require.

Career Tech Camp

A Career Tech Camp for students in the 8th – 9th grades provides the students an opportunity to learn what career opportunities are available to them. The students rotated through the courses available at the DeKalb County Technology Center with hands on learning experiences and on-site visits with local business and industry. The last day of camp provided them a look at The Real World as they participated in this program that had them finding a job, learning about finance, purchasing a home and automobile through the daily living expenses that they will be facing as they go out on their own. The business and industry leaders throughout DeKalb County showed their support of preparing students as they volunteered their time and expertise during the camp.

Workforce Development Resources for Industry

There are resources available on local and state levels to ensure that our industries have access to the skills training needed for a quality workforce.