Each of our component projects are tailored to the communities they are serving and our Coalition understands that an initiative can only be successful if it is supported by the communities it is designed to impact. In Wider West Alabama community engagement must includes local CEDS, public school leaders, church leaders, county com- missioners, as well as regional workforce councils.
CEDS
Seven CEDS cover the 27 counties in Wider West Alabama. Three of the regional commissions—Alabama-Tombigbee (ATRC), West Alabama (WARC), and South Central (SCRC) —are core partners of the Coalition and will help implement some of our programs. For example, ARTC will be hosting the Black Belt Leadership Academy, which will include leaders from all 27 counties in a year-long continuing education experience and building development capacity in the region. In addition, their economic plans will continue to inform DRIVE programs. The CEDS share aligned interests with DRIVE in seeking to build workforce training and support as well as attracting industry to these regions. As such, CEDS regional com- missions are key partners for DRIVE and building both comprehensive regional improvements and EV-specific manufacturing capacity.
Public school leaders
There are 27 county and 13 city school districts in the 27 targeted counties. With the strong endorsement of State Superintendent of Schools Eric Mackey, DRIVE will convene the 40 Black Belt school superintendents — 36 of whom wrote support letters for this grant —quarterly to inform them of our progress. We will work through the School Superintendents of Alabama and the University of Alabama Superintendents Academy for additional improvement opportunities but also to link to the rebuilt statewide careers and apprentice-ship platforms, recrafted by the EPC in partnership with the Articulation & General Studies Commission and the Alabama Office of Apprenticeships. School linkages will also be a key part of credentialing and EV career development plans across multiple coalition components.
Church leaders & county commissioners
Our Coalition will work with our CEDS partners to develop partnerships with local church leaders and county commissioners. The President of the Alabama Association of County Officials is already committed to our initiative. In addition, we will partner with the Alabama League of Municipalities. Similarly, Black Belt based CEDS have solid relation-ships with key local Black and white churchleaders. Our Coalition will leverage those relationships to further solidify our footprint in the region.
Regional Workforce Councils
West Alabama Works, one of our key members, is one of the seven Workforce Investment Councils. We will leverage its existing networks to further the regional partnerships. In addition, the Coalition will continue their close work with the Alabama Department of Community and Economic Affairs, the Alabama Industrial Development Training pro-gram, and the Alabama Department of Commerce to strengthen ties with the workforce community in Alabama.
CEDS
Seven CEDS cover the 27 counties in Wider West Alabama. Three of the regional commissions—Alabama-Tombigbee (ATRC), West Alabama (WARC), and South Central (SCRC) —are core partners of the Coalition and will help implement some of our programs. For example, ARTC will be hosting the Black Belt Leadership Academy, which will include leaders from all 27 counties in a year-long continuing education experience and building development capacity in the region. In addition, their economic plans will continue to inform DRIVE programs. The CEDS share aligned interests with DRIVE in seeking to build workforce training and support as well as attracting industry to these regions. As such, CEDS regional com- missions are key partners for DRIVE and building both comprehensive regional improvements and EV-specific manufacturing capacity.
Public school leaders
There are 27 county and 13 city school districts in the 27 targeted counties. With the strong endorsement of State Superintendent of Schools Eric Mackey, DRIVE will convene the 40 Black Belt school superintendents — 36 of whom wrote support letters for this grant —quarterly to inform them of our progress. We will work through the School Superintendents of Alabama and the University of Alabama Superintendents Academy for additional improvement opportunities but also to link to the rebuilt statewide careers and apprentice-ship platforms, recrafted by the EPC in partnership with the Articulation & General Studies Commission and the Alabama Office of Apprenticeships. School linkages will also be a key part of credentialing and EV career development plans across multiple coalition components.
Church leaders & county commissioners
Our Coalition will work with our CEDS partners to develop partnerships with local church leaders and county commissioners. The President of the Alabama Association of County Officials is already committed to our initiative. In addition, we will partner with the Alabama League of Municipalities. Similarly, Black Belt based CEDS have solid relation-ships with key local Black and white churchleaders. Our Coalition will leverage those relationships to further solidify our footprint in the region.
Regional Workforce Councils
West Alabama Works, one of our key members, is one of the seven Workforce Investment Councils. We will leverage its existing networks to further the regional partnerships. In addition, the Coalition will continue their close work with the Alabama Department of Community and Economic Affairs, the Alabama Industrial Development Training pro-gram, and the Alabama Department of Commerce to strengthen ties with the workforce community in Alabama.