Since the submission of the Phase 1 proposal, we, as a coalition, continued to focus our efforts on the engagement of community, industry, and state partners to build out our initiatives. The broad support we have received from these entities shows that our commitment to improving social and economic prosperity in Wider West Alabama is both trusted and reciprocated by key stakeholders. It also shows that the automotive industry’s transition to electrification requires all hands on deck.
To this application are a!ached support letters from MBUSI and it suppliers, from the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association, seven regional commissions (CEDS), statewide and regional workforce councils, state government leaders including Governor Key Ivey, Finance Director Bill Poole, Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield, AIDT Director Ed Castille, Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs Director Kenneth Boswell; statewide education leaders including Alabama State Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey, Alabama Commission on Higher Education Executive Director Jim Purcell; 7 of 11 targeted postsecondary colleges and universities, including 4 HBCUs; 36 of 40 county and city schools superintendents from Wider West Alabama; county and local elected officials; and regional church leaders.
This broad support is only one of the outcomes of the work conducted by our coalition in the last four months.
Coalition building
To this application are a!ached support letters from MBUSI and it suppliers, from the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association, seven regional commissions (CEDS), statewide and regional workforce councils, state government leaders including Governor Key Ivey, Finance Director Bill Poole, Secretary of Commerce Greg Canfield, AIDT Director Ed Castille, Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs Director Kenneth Boswell; statewide education leaders including Alabama State Superintendent of Education Eric Mackey, Alabama Commission on Higher Education Executive Director Jim Purcell; 7 of 11 targeted postsecondary colleges and universities, including 4 HBCUs; 36 of 40 county and city schools superintendents from Wider West Alabama; county and local elected officials; and regional church leaders.
This broad support is only one of the outcomes of the work conducted by our coalition in the last four months.
Coalition building
- Established MOU for coalition member
- Developed brand strategy, media kit, and internal/teams site
- Created steering committee of local, state and national experts
- Hosted component projects consultations as well as group/board meetings
- Conducted preliminary analysis of WWA region
- Developed joint economic development strategy and evaluation plan (including data management and reporting procedures as well as overall governance structure)
- Compiled/published WWA resource directory
- Hired RECO and Administrative Assistant
- Add ninth component to specifically address the need for coalition governance.
- Secured match funding across all component projects
- Negotiated contract and service agreements with industry partners
- Construction — Toured site locations and met with site contractors
- Engaged industry partners — MBUSI, Hyundai, suppliers
- Met with former and current CEOs, HR man- agers, etc.
- Conducted OEM & supplier survey Public sector engagement
- Met with all 4 economic development district (EDD/CEDS) partners to coordinate and align efforts
- Secured partnerships with Alabama Workforce Regions 5 and 7
- Met with state and regional planning agencies such as ALSDE, ADOL, ADOC, GOEWT, ARC, ADECA to integrate statewide plans
- Met with colleges and universities to coordinate collaborative training/research partnerships
- Facilitated listening sessions with K-12 school superintendents and church leaders across the Black Belt
- Released Black Belt Issue Brief Series highlighting the needs and circumstance of counties across the Wider West Alabama
- Participated in West Alabama Works manufacturing cluster meetings and NEXT Level Series