Concept art shows the planned technical education center at Wallace State in Hanceville. (Courtesy of Wallace State)
HANCEVILLE – Wallace State Community College will break ground on a new Technical Education Center for Welding and Entrepreneurship on Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, at 11 a.m. behind the School of Nursing and Center for Science on the north end of the campus in Hanceville.
Wallace State estimates the Center will create approximately 98 new jobs and invest approximately $25 million in payroll revenue into the community in the first eight years. The Center will facilitate connections between faculty and entrepreneurs and improve survival for small and medium-sized startups in their initial years of work.
“Since as early as 2012, we have been working diligently to secure funding for this project,” said Dr. Vicki Karolewics, president of Wallace State. “Wallace State’s involvement in launching ZeroRPM and Sequence Health only strengthened our sense of urgency that a center of this type is essential to the continued growth of jobs through entrepreneurship in our community. Chancellor Baker and the Board of Trustees of the Alabama Community College System shared our vision, and with their support and this funding, we will finally see this vision become a reality.”
The groundbreaking is the result of a $2 million grant to Wallace State Community College from the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration.
“Under the Trump Administration, workforce development and training are of the utmost importance as some workers continue to struggle in communities across the United States,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “This new facility in Cullman will provide the innovative education workers need to compete for jobs in the global economy.”
The public is invited to join the college in this celebratory event. Congressman Robert Aderholt, R-Alabama, Chancellor Jimmy Baker and other state and local elected officials and dignitaries are expected to attend.
Event Details:
WHAT: Groundbreaking for Technical Education Center for Welding and Entrepreneurship
WHEN: Friday, Nov. 9, 2018, at 11 a.m.
WHERE: Wallace State Community College, 801 Main Street NW, Hanceville, AL 35077
Behind the School of Nursing and Center for Science on the north end of the campus
