Author Archives: Kailah Dozier

Small businesses are the backbone of Alabama’s economy. They make up 99 percent of businesses in the state and employ nearly half of its workforce, according to the U.S. Small Business Administration. They drive innovation, shape our communities, and create jobs.

However, many of our Main Street businesses are struggling to find skilled workers.

A recent report from my organization, the National Federation of Independent Business, NFIB, found that 35 percent of small business owners nationwide had job openings they could not fill. In January, 52 percent of small businesses were hiring or trying to hire, but nearly half of them found few or no qualified applicants. Twenty-four percent reported only a few qualified applicants, while 23 percent said they had none.

That echoes what I’m hearing from small businesses here in Alabama. One reason for this labor shortage is that many Alabamians aren’t in the workforce.

The state Department of Labor says about 57 percent of working-age adults participate in the labor force, well below the national average of 62 percent. Small business owners feel the impact every day—positions stay open, current employees are overworked, and growth is limited by the lack of skilled workers.

As state director for NFIB, I know how critical workforce development is to small business success. When businesses can’t find workers with the right skills, they struggle to compete and grow. Unfortunately, most small businesses don’t have the time or resources to train new employees from scratch.

Thankfully, Alabama’s small businesses have a strong partner in the Alabama Community College System, ACCS. Community colleges provide education and training that prepare workers for real-world jobs—quickly and effectively.

One standout program is the ACCS Innovation Center, which offers Skills for Success courses. These short, non-credit programs are designed with input from industries to meet workforce needs. In as little as two weeks, participants can earn industry-recognized skills at no cost. For small business owners, this creates a pipeline of job-ready workers without the high costs of on-the-job training.

The idea is simple: Main Street businesses should focus on running their operations, not training workers from the ground up. ACCS understands this and has built programs to help. Whether it’s preparing new workers or teaching existing employees new skills, these courses allow small businesses to focus on growth instead of struggling to fill essential positions.

Beyond the Innovation Center, Alabama’s community colleges support workers at every stage of their careers. Whether someone is earning a GED, getting a technical certification, pursuing an associate degree, or retraining for a new industry, our community colleges offers flexible education to meet Alabama’s workforce needs.

By investing in education, training, and industry partnerships, ACCS does more than help individuals—it strengthens Alabama’s small businesses and, in turn, the state’s economy. For small business owners and employees alike, the Alabama Community College System isn’t just a place to learn—it’s a partner in success.

From Jefferson State Community College

Free workforce training on the operation of skid steer and other heavy equipment is now available at Jefferson State’s Chilton-Clanton Campus thanks to a grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission and funding from Skills for Success. The training is open to local companies and also the community at large.

“For those entering the construction industry, quality skills training is not just a requirement — it’s a vital foundation for safety and efficiency,” Dean of Workforce Education Leah Bigbee said. “By investing in comprehensive training programs, we empower our trainees with the knowledge and hands-on experience they need to excel in their careers and contribute to a safer, more productive work environment.”

The heavy equipment training includes two parts — Online Theory Training, which can be completed at your own pace, and Behind the Wheel Training, which takes two days each for the skid steer, bulldozer and excavator.

Participants must be at least 16 years of age or older, and lab dates will be shared with students upon completion of the online portion of the course. Leading industry partners on this project include Dunn Construction, Saiia and Chilton County Contractors among others.

“We are grateful for our industry partner support on this program and welcome our company partners to send their employees for upskilling as well as the community at large to attend to receive vital skills development,” Training Coordinator Robert Tellis said.

This training is made possible by the Appalachian Regional Commission through the Regionally Aligned Priorities in Delivering Skills (RAPIDS) grant to Jefferson State Community College. The ARC plays a vital role in fostering economic development and enhancing workforce skills across the Appalachian region.

As a division of the Alabama Community College System, the ACCS Innovation Center is committed to helping individuals and improving Alabama’s economic strength through accessible and innovative training programs. These programs are designed to address the skills gap and prepare Alabamians for a variety of in-demand careers. The courses offered through Skills for Success are tailored specifically for Alabamians, with the goal of providing quick, industry-recognized training in high-demand career fields. By doing so, the program aims to create a skilled workforce that will benefit the state’s economy.

For more information, contact the Center for Workforce Education at Jefferson State at 205- 856-7710 or [email protected].

RUSSELLVILLE — Starting next year, Russellville High School students will have to have a career readiness indicator (CRI) to graduate. Some are already earning a CRI through a program in connection with Northwest Shoals Community College.  

The program allows students to be registered through NWSCC and be able to earn a heavy equipment operator license through classes on campus at RHS. With this earned credential, they will be ready to be hired for jobs requiring heavy equipment licensure, thus giving them an advantage in more quickly finding a job and getting to work.

“Starting next year, our seniors will have to have a college and career readiness indicator to graduate, so what that means is they will have to have some kind of certification, or some kind of credential, to go with their high school diploma,”  said Dr. AnnaKay Holland, director of Career and Technical Education.  

One way to achieve that is by taking classes where they learn about operating heavy equipment, including bulldozers and track hole excavators.  

“If we have students who are interested in going into construction fields, dirt work, anything where you have to be able to operate equipment, then they have this other avenue to gain that CRI,” Holland said. (For) a lot of construction jobs, that kind of goes hand in hand for you to be able to operate equipment as well.” 

Students 16 or older can sign up for the program, which is registered through Northwest Shoals Community College, and get certified for heavy equipment operation.   

Justin Steele, a welding instructor at NWSCC, praised the new program.  

“It’s outstanding,” Steele said. “I’m glad these kids are getting the experience to go do something like this. It’s a valuable opportunity to be more work ready,” he said, “and they get a certification, too. They get to go out and get hours and get experience. They’re excited.” 

Chase Holland, a heavy equipment instructor at NWSCC, has been involved with the program. 

“This past January marked a year since I started doing this,” he explained. “I believe we’re up to eight instructors. The program started a year earlier, when Gov. (Kay) Ivey promised 500,000 work-ready individuals. Grant money is making this possible.”  

“Something like this is a great opportunity to make a good living,” Holland added. “It opens up a whole new world to these kids.”  

Russellville High senior Jesus Rivera is one of the students who has benefitted from the program. 

 “It was exciting,” he said of the experience operating the equipment. “I was scared at first. I’m going to learn something my dad did when he was younger. My long-term goal is to be an electrician or electrical engineer, and this will be helpful for that.”  

Rivera said participating in the program has made a difference in how he feels about his prospects for the future.  

“I’m actually really proud and happy to experience something my dad did when he was younger,” he said. “I was nervous at first, but once I got the hang of it, it was really fun.” 

Another RHS senior, Edwin Jiminez, said the experience “seems pretty fun,” noting he likes it so far. “I want to do something like this in the future,” Jiminez added. “I’m just glad to get to be out there.”  

“I feel great,” RHS senior Billy Sandova Sandoval said. “I’ve had some good experiences out here. This gives me the vision of what I want to do. The program is great. They do amazing things for us.” 

Maria Camp, Managing Editor for Franklin County Times

MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – In recent years, the state along with the Alabama Community College System and medical agencies have worked to make this announcement possible.

The system now provides 22 licensed practical nursing programs and 14 apprenticeships.

“There are thousands, thousands of jobs available in hospitals today that we can’t fill,” said Peggy Benson with the Alabama Board of Nursing.

These programs will fill more than 2,000 of those vacant spots. Specifically, the nursing support technician certified apprenticeship program will allow students to work alongside a nurse all while helping hospitals in need of medical workers.

Alabama is one of the first states to provide this program with other states mimicking the criteria.

High school students are even taking part. Of the 13,000 students already enrolled in these programs, 12% are dual enrollment students.

Officials believe that creating opportunities to have a well-paying job will only better communities especially rural parts of Alabama.

Julia Avant, Reporter for WSFA

Businesses across Alabama have found it increasingly difficult to find and retain skilled workers, a challenge expected to grow even more as older, experienced employees leave the workforce.

But one statewide initiative, part of the state community college system, wants to change that, removing barriers to help match willing workers with companies ready to fill their labor needs.

“The skills gap is here, and it’s nasty,” says Houston Blackwood, workforce director with Skills for Success, a rapid workforce training program launched through the Innovation Center, a division of the Alabama Community College System that brings together community colleges, business and industry, and community partners.

“When I was in school, everyone was pushed to go to a four-year college. … We just weren’t really even aware of the trade opportunities available,” he says. “So, nobody went into the trades, and here we are 20 years later, with this huge gap.”

And while the Skills for Success program is facilitated through the state community college system, Blackwood says it is open to anyone across the state, from high-school students to older workers wanting to change careers or who simply want to improve their skills for advancement with their current employer.

“We work with industries across the state and ask: What’s your need? What are the skills involved? What do people need to know?” Blackwood explains. “Then we work with those industries and companies, and we build each course that we then give to community colleges around the state, and they deliver them in the way it best fits for their particular area. And that’s what makes it magic: we can reach every community, every high school, every person in Alabama — and they all have access to this no-cost training that is built by the very industries that need the workers.”

Yep. No-cost.

The program started just four years ago, thanks to state legislative appropriations, and already offers 27 courses with another 13-14 in the works. Current offerings range from fiber optics installers and meat cutters to heavy equipment operators and school bus drivers. “There’s really not a sector of the workplace that we don’t touch,” says Blackwood.

Courses are designed to be completed in two parts. After a self-directed, interactive online segment, students then complete a hands-on portion with instructors at any of the 24 community colleges and technical centers in the state. Courses can be completed in a few days or a few weeks, depending on the skill requirements involved, and graduates receive a statewide credential.

And this rapid training is a godsend for many businesses that need workers “yesterday” and workers who may not have the time or resources to complete a degree or certification that takes months or years. “We saw after COVID that the industry can’t wait, people can’t wait for that long to get a job,” says Blackwood. “So, we created something that’s quick, relevant, accurate and cheap.”

Chad Sutton, director of workforce development for Lurleen B. Wallace Community College in Opp, says the program has been pivotal for rural communities where many residents may not have the awareness about or access to job opportunities.

“A lot of people are just not aware of everything that’s available out there,” he says. “And now we have the opportunity to train people in our community and teach them about these careers by doing hands-on skills. Anytime you can start to develop skills in your community, that’s huge for everybody because that’s really how people become economically free — because of skill development and the opportunities that come from that.”

And the training opportunities being offered were built by industry people, adds Sutton, stressing the importance of that for businesses. “These courses weren’t built by somebody sitting in the office — they were built by people in these industries based on what they need. So, now you have these trainings that get right to the point. They don’t skip anything important, but they make it really relevant for exactly what is needed.”

During the 2023-2024 school year, LBW issues 1,443 workforce training certificates, a 324% increase compared to the previous year. For the Alabama Community College System, a record 1,452 students participated in workforce development training programs.

Businesses across the state are just tuning in to the benefits of the program, and organizers say they are ready to expand into whatever fields need skilled workers. “It really just starts with that idea,” says Blackwood. “A business can come to us and tell us what skills they really need and we can tailor a program for that business or industry.”

Burleson Pool Co., a company that will celebrate its 60th year in Huntsville in 2025, went from struggling to replace two retiring CDL drivers to increasing their productivity in less than two years because of Skills for Success.

“We found this program online through Northeast Alabama Community College in Rainsville and we were just amazed at what it offered,” says Allison Burleson, the company’s human resources director. “We ended up sending five of our employees over the past year or year and a half and they all got their CDL licenses.”

Burleson says the employees who went through the program really found it to be effective. In particular, they said they appreciated that the course wasn’t too long or drawn-out, which minimized their absence from work, and “they also really liked how immersive the course was and how they got a lot of really good on-the-road experience all throughout North Alabama,” she says.

“Being able to have multiple guys on the road has been a game changer,” she says. “We’ve already seen an increase in the number of pools we’ve been able to finish at one time over the last six months or so — and we can really tell an increase in our efficiency being able to work across several states. It’s a big deal for our small company.”

Jennifer Williams is a Hartselle-based freelance contributor to Business Alabama.