HANCEVILLE, Ala. – Wallace State Community College (WSCC) in Hanceville is the recipient of a $1,169,958 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC). The grant’s purpose is to prepare students for work in the quickly growing electric vehicle (EV) field.
WSCC President Dr. Vicki Karolewics shared, “Wallace State continually strives to be a pacesetter in all of our programs, and we are excited about the opportunity to be on the leading edge of technician training for electric vehicle innovation in Alabama.”
The school will team up with the American Trucking Association, Freightliner, Kenworth and Mercedes-Benz to upgrade programs to meet the state’s EV manufacturing and maintenance needs. WSCC’s Mechatronics, Automotive Services and Diesel Technician programs will all see these upgrades.
Students and others in the training programs will receive on-the-job training in addition to certifications for the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE) and electric truck certifications. This will help create a workforce ready and trained for the high-earning EV production and repair workplaces.
In the program’s third year, WSCC plans to serve 230 students, providing the opportunity for students to enter well-paying jobs, some of which were lost during the downsizing of coal production careers.
“Wallace State has always been a leader in developing students into highly skilled and productive employees in a number of fields. This grant will continue that leadership and tradition in the new and growing EV sector. I know that Dr. Vicki Karolewics and the dedicated staff, faculty and students at Wallace will put this money to good use,” said Congressman Robert Aderholt, R-Alabama.
ARC is an economic development agency, funded by Congress, which focuses on 423 counties in the Appalachian Region. Its mission is “to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia to help the Region achieve socioeconomic parity with the nation.”
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