Free job training programs in Alabama.
Many of the employment assistance programs are administered by the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. The government organization provides services to youth, dislocated workers, seniors, the unemployed, and people who are just trying to gain a new skill. Alabama also works closely and receives funding from the federal government and the Workforce Investment Act program.
The state deploys a Rapid Response Team as part of the Workforce Development Division. Staff and counselors will offer on-site counseling and assistance to workers when plants or factories announce layoffs. This is usually offered by Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) when a factory or plant is closing or has substantial job reductions. Impacted workers will receive free information about employment services, government unemployment compensation, pension benefits, job retraining programs, subsidized health insurance, credit/debt counseling and many other services. Many studies show that the sooner that workers start to manage the transition to a new job or career, the better the outcome for them.
The dislocated worker, Rapid Response team can help residents and the unemployed manage their various needs. Staff will do their best to help affected employees return to work. Learn about financial and other assistance that is offered during this time frame. This can help people maintain their standard of living during the transition period.
For people transitioning from correctional facilities or prison in Alabama, the Community Partnership for Recovery and Reentry is an option. It will offer clients access to a network of support services, and assistance is available for their families as well.
ADECA enters into partnerships with local non-profit organizations as well as state and local governmental agencies. They will involve churches and other faith and community-based organizations as well. Individuals can get access to assistance for the particular challenges they face in their reentry to the workforce and society at large. The objective is to break the cycle of re-offending and truly help individuals become productive, fully employed and law-abiding citizens.
The Incumbent Worker Training Program is for both employees and businesses in Alabama. With the state and national workforce constantly changing, many employers and employees require new skills and training on technology. So the state's Incumbent Worker Training Program helps employers pay the bills and expenses for workers to upgrade and acquire those new skills. Among other things this can help businesses avoid layoffs and meet foreign competition. To learn more or to see if this is available for you (or a similar program) contact your local Career Centers for additional information.
Younger residents and the youth may benefit from Mentor Alabama. The program can handle background checks and facilitate the overall process. The service is really offered as a loose affiliation of mentoring organizations that use services provided by the state. Many of the businesses and people that go through the process help the youth develop leadership skills and more.
Additional Youth Programs are offered. They are paid for as part of the federal government Workforce Investment Act. This resource will provide services to residents who range in age from 14 to 21. It can provide for programs for out-of-school youth that lack basic skills. A focus is on assisting those that are unemployed or underemployed. Additional employment assistance is made available for those youth with disabilities.
On-the-Job Training Programs are offered statewide. They include Performance-Based and New Hire programs. Both these, and many others, are paid for by the U.S. Department of Labor. These resources give clients an opportunity to learn job skills. Another benefit is for employers as it will allow them to train new employees while saving money on those training costs.
Local businesses need to look into these. Residents can see if they can benefit by calling a local Career Center. The New Hire Program allows an employer to receive up to 50 percent reimbursement on those expenses and resulting hourly wages paid to a trainee. The second option, the Performance-Based plan, will help oversee training for a large number of employees.
Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs administers the WIA/Workforce Investment Act. Among other things, this allows the state to implement employment, training and career development programs for the unemployed and others. The governor appoints the state workforce board members to oversee the program.
Most of the resources from WIA are available at One-Stop Career Centers. These locations provide clients with employment assistance, information/access to job training, adult education and other services. Aid is offered for senior citizens, adults, youth, dislocated workers and the disabled. Many groups partner with the program. This includes family service centers, local governments, schools, community colleges, businesses, local chambers of commerce, and regional non-profit organizations.
These Alabama Career Centers, and their satellite offices, are located throughout the state, in most counties and major towns. Staff on location provide qualified clients with job development services, occupational and educational training, veterans' services, vocational rehabilitation and even federal government unemployment insurance information. Assistance can be provided from a workshop or maybe one on one, personnel counseling sessions.
Potential employers have the ability to work with local centers to find employees with specific skills that they need. The goal of the locations are to consolidate the delivery of services at a single site. Some centers work with other government agencies and non-profits, such as the Alabama departments of Industrial Relations, two-year colleges, and public universities.
The Jefferson County Workforce Investment Area operates a premier workforce development system in the county. It will foster economic development by linking job seekers with employers. They can also attend education and training.
Mobile County Workforce Investment Area is available for individuals and families in that county. It is formally known as Mobile Works. In order for local businesses to grow, they must have highly experienced and skilled workers. So this office will work on addressing education, career development and job training. The office tries to build a world-class workforce in the region.
Veterans receive priority for all assistance programs. The State will offer qualified veterans and their families with priority in all employment and job training programs that are funded by the U.S. Department of Labor. To learn more, you will need to visit or call an Alabama Career Center for more information about available programs and eligibility. Staff from the Career Centers are available to explain program mandatory eligibility and veterans' priority.
Locations of Alabama Career Centers
Alabaster Career Center, (205) 663-2542 Albertville Career Center, call (256) 878-3031 Alexander City, contact Alex City Career Center - Central Alabama Community College, call (256) 215-4494 Andalusia. The Career Center is at L B Wallace Community College. Dial (334) 881-2304 Anniston Career Center - Gadsden State Community College, (256) 832-0147 Bay Minette Career Center. Telephone (251) 937-4161 Bessemer, Lawson State Community College Bessemer Campus, (205) 929-3501 Birmingham has several career centers to call as noted below.
- Lawson State Community College, (205) 929-6473
- Birmingham Career Job Center, (205) 254-1300
- Jefferson State Community College Career Center, telephone (205) 856-8024
Blountsville Career Center, (205) 429-4311 Brewton Career Center, (251) 867-4376 Camden Career Center. Call Camden City Hall at (334) 682-9428 Decatur Career Center, (256) 355-0142 Demopolis Career Center, main number is (334) 289-0202 Dothan Career Center, (334) 792-2121 Enterprise Career Center, (334) 347-0044 Eufaula Career Center. Main phone number is (334) 687-3551 Fayette Career Center -Beville State Community College (205) 932-3221
Foley Career Center, (251) 943-1575 Fort Payne Career Center, (256) 845-2900 Gadsden Career Center, dial (256) 546-4667 Greenville Career Center. Phone (334) 382-3128 Haleyville Career Center, (205) 486-4154 Hamilton Career Center, Bevill State Community College, (205) 921-7657 Hanceville Career Center is located at Wallace State Community College, (256) 352-5538 Huntsville Career Center, (256) 851-0537 Jackson Career Center, (251) 246-2453 Jasper Career Job Center. Phone (205) 221-2576 Luverne Career Center, (334) 335-2300 Mobile Career Center, (251) 461-4146 Monroeville Career Center, (251) 575-3894 Montgomery Career Center, main telephone (334) 286-1746 Opelika Career Center, call (334) 749-5065 Pell City Career Center, (205) 338-5440 Phenix City Career Center - Chattahoochee Valley, telephone (334) 214-4828 Phil Campbell Career Center - Northwest Shoals Community College, (256) 331-6285 Rainsville Career Center - Northeast Alabama Community College, (256) 638-2239 Roanoke Career Center. Telephone - (334) 863-8114 Scottsboro Career Center, main number is (256) 574-1720 Selma Career Center - (334) 872-0471 Sheffield Career Center. Phone (256) 383-5610 Talladega Career Center - Central Alabama Community College. Telephone number is (256) 480-2109 Troy Career Center, (334) 566-3920 Tuscaloosa Career Center can be called at (205) 758-7591. Valley Career Center - Southern Union Community College. (334) 756-0024 Vernon Career Center - Vernon Career Tech School. Main number is (205) 695-8224
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