Emerging Leaders Tour ACCS Innovation Center in Decatur

Thank you to the ACCS Innovation Center for hosting our Emerging Leaders event on December 6. We were able to tour the state-of-the-art facility and Workforce Director Houston Blackwood explained how their Skills for Success program provides rapid employee training at no cost to local businesses and industries. This state-of-the-art facility serves as a hub for cultivating a skilled workforce, not only in Decatur-Morgan County but across the state.

The Innovation Center opened in November and is located in downtown Decatur at the renovated Decatur City Schools Central Office building on Fourth Avenue Northeast. Businesses who partner with the Innovation Center can upskill current and/or recruit prospective new hires with Skills for Success training, creating a qualified workforce pipeline that eliminates hours of on-the-job training. Training courses for commercial driver’s license, fiber optics installer and technician, hotel operations, heavy equipment operators, food and beverage services and meat cutting are currently available.

The courses are completed online and then a one or two day in-person lab is conducted in a convenient location for those being trained. After the course is complete, the person receives an ACCS credential.  With Skills for Success courses, residents can also get free access to quick training and do not have to be enrolled at a community college to take the courses. There are plans to add at least 18 additional courses to the program in the near future such as emergency medical responder, forestry operations and electrical helper.

Our Emerging Leaders events provide the opportunity for you to grow as a leader and expand your network. Our next Emerging Leaders event will be on Wednesday, February 7. Thank you to our supporting sponsor Alabama Farm Credit.