ACCS Innovation Center

10/03/2026

Southern Union State Community College is offering a two-week Facilities Maintenance program developed by the ACCS Innovation Center.

Through the course experience, participants take part in four Skills for Success courses:
✅Customer Service
✅Carpentry Helper
✅Plumbing Assistant
✅Electrical Helper

The program also includes a half-day resume workshop and site visit to Auburn University's facilities departments.

As Dr. Tyler Nelson, Director of Workforce Development at Southern Union, puts it: "By pairing multiple Skills for Success courses with local workforce shortages, we are providing an immediate, cost-effective solution for our business partners while creating sustainable career pathways for our students."

With two cohorts completed and a third launching this fall, those successfully completing the trainings have already been hired by Auburn University and other employers across the region.

Learn more about this opportunity and more at TrainForAlabama.com

10/01/2026

From the ground up, we have big news for Alabama flooring!

The ACCS Innovation Center (IC) is proud to announce that the Skills for Success Flooring Installation Technician course is coming to the Floor Covering Education Foundation (FCEF) facility in Birmingham, Alabama!

Jefferson State Community College and Lawson State Community College will deliver the training in partnership with FCEF and the IC, with cost-free options available. The course is also available across the state of Alabama through Alabama Community College System (ACCS) colleges.

Julie Frizzell, Chief of Operations for the IC, shared, "This course is a true example of what's possible when industry and education come together to address real workforce needs. We're proud to partner with FCEF to bring high-quality flooring installation training to communities across the state."

This is workforce development built for Alabama workers and the employers who need them. As participants pursue this industry-recognized ACCS credential, flooring dealers, contractors, and installation companies are invited to connect with their local community college and consider hiring participants.

Kaye Whitener, Executive Director of FCEF, added, "We are thrilled to see this partnership come full circle. By working side by side with ACCS, we are expanding access to meaningful training, elevating flooring installation as a recognized trade, and helping Alabama employers tap into a new cadre of skilled talent."

Learn more or share employer interest at TrainForAlabama.com!

09/28/2026

Skilled trades jobs are open across Alabama right now, and many employers are still hiring around the gap as they wait for the right applicant to walk through the door.

Qualico Steel Company, Inc. recently partnered with Wallace Community College to bring hands-on career exploration to Dothan United’s Salute to Skilled Trades Night. Through this effort, more than 5,400 soccer fans were invited to tour Wallace’s mobile welding unit and to try the ACCS Innovation Center’s career simulators, too. 🛠️

That's an employer collaborating to build its talent pipeline from exploration forward. This is what workforce development looks like when industry helps build the training. 🤝

Explore partnership opportunities at TrainForAlabama.com and check out next step Skills For Success course options, too!

09/27/2026

Devoski Boyd, owner of Boyd Walston Construction, completed the Skid Steer Operator course at Reid State Community College through Skills for Success in 2024. The training gave him hands-on experience operating equipment safely and effectively but the impact went further than that.

As his company has grown to support projects at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama, Tuskegee University, Enterprise Rent-A-Center, and private landowners across the region, the knowledge he gained through Skills for Success has continued to show up on every job site. Understanding the work from a hands-on perspective allows him to communicate more effectively with crews, make better field decisions, and lead projects with confidence.

For Devoski, it was not just a course. It was another building block in the journey from entrepreneur to construction professional and proof that one credential can lead to stronger businesses, stronger communities, and a faster-growing Alabama economy.

Learn more about Skills for Success at TrainForAlabama.com.

09/25/2026

The ACCS Innovation Center (IC) is proud to support the Alabama Road Builders Association (ARBA) in launching the Next Gen Heavy Equipment Operator Program.

The IC's Skills for Success courses will be used to help participants build the Day 1 workplace skills employers are seeking through this initiative, a key step in training Alabama participants to thrive.

Thank you to ARBA, the Alabama Department of Education, and participating schools for investing in Alabama's transportation construction workforce. We are honored to partner in this good work!

09/23/2026

🛠️ Career growth is in your hands with the Skills for Success Flooring Installation Technician Course!

Built in partnership with industry experts and delivered through Alabama’s community colleges, the course equips participants with needed skills to thrive in the flooring industry.

The course covers hardwood, carpet, laminate, and tile installation, as well as job site assessments and quality inspections.

Participants who complete the course earn an ACCS credential and are prepared for Day 1 success on the job.

From the ground up, grow with us! Learn more about the Flooring Installation Technician course at TrainForAlabama.com

09/19/2026

🚛 This week, we are celebrating the truck drivers who keep Alabama and this country moving, and we are especially proud of those who have gained their skillsets through Skills for Success courses!

To the employers who depend on qualified CDL drivers — the ACCS Innovation Center wants to help you build your team.

Whether you are looking to upskill current team members or hire already-trained drivers, the process just got a whole lot easier.

Skills for Success CDL Class courses delivered through Alabama’s community colleges prepare participants to hit the ground running on Day 1.

Don’t wait. Learn more at TrainForAlabama.com.

09/16/2026

Skills for Success enrollment is the gateway to career training that builds with "Day 1" workforce preparation in mind.

As of this summer, the ACCS Innovation Center has enrolled over 72,000 participants, and Alabama's business and industry leaders are seeing the impact of that work in real time through trained workers, reduced onboarding time, and skilled teams.

This is what workforce development looks like and why pouring into this work with ACCS Innovation Center and Alabama's community colleges matters so much. See how Alabama's workforce investment is paying off at TrainForAlabama.com!

09/14/2026

Strong partnerships between workforce training and industry are moving Alabama forward.

Congratulations to Chancellor Jimmy H. Baker on being recognized as a "Friend of Manufacturing" by Manufacture Alabama. His leadership continues to champion innovative training like Skills for Success courses that create real opportunities for Alabamians and help industries across our state thrive.

Alabama’s community college system has played a difference-making role in preparing students of today for the actual jobs of tomorrow. That role was recognized this week by Alabama manufacturers.

The association, Manufacture Alabama, awarded its “Friend of Manufacturing” designation to the Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System, Jimmy Baker.

Link in comments to read full story

09/13/2026

Thanks to The Bama Buzz for sharing Anthony's Skills for Success story, shining a light on what the ACCS Innovation Center's partnership with Alabama's community colleges means for participants statewide.

Workforce development is about jobs filled, lives changed, and communities strengthened. The IC is proud to offer a fast and flexible, industry-recognized way to make it all happen.

Read Anthony's full story at The Bama Buzz link below.

🚨 60+ JOB SKILLS COURSES + NO-COST OPTIONS: Four years ago, Anthony Steele had no clear path forward. Today he drives a half-million-dollar truck, owns a home, and credits an AL training program for turning everything around. BuzzPartner