CCPS Receives $103,000 Welding Grant

More than 50% of U.S. products require welding. The earliest recorded weld occurred in 3,500 B.C., during the Bronze Age.  The Derek Jeters of welding make more than $100,000 per year.

Crenshaw County Public Schools announces its receipt of  the 21^st Century Workforce Act Grant in the amount of $103,000.  The proceeds from the “Workforce Act Grant” will enable the Crenshaw County Public System to implement a comprehensive welding program, relative to the auto manufacturing needs of the community, that would assist in the promotion of economic development and industrial recruitment in both Crenshaw County and Alabama.  Through creation of this new-to-Crenshaw County School welding program, the system will develop a return on investment over a multi-year period that will be closely monitored and will thereby increase the number of student credentials received, increase job placement, and/or increase the enrollment of students in career-focused postsecondary education upon graduation from high school.  

Tools and equipment needed to address emerging “green” or “sustainable welding practices and technology are as on the Alabama Career Technical website under the cluster program listing of “Architecture and Construction Cluster Welding Technology Equipment List.  Activities for the Welding Program shall be derived from the Alabama Course of Study for the following courses:  Introduction to Welding, Applied Welding with PAC, Applied Welding II with CAS, Applied Welding III with Groove Welds and Inspection, Applied Welding IV Advanced Groove Welds and Testing, Gas Metal Arc Welding, Flux Cored Arc Welding, Gas Tungsten Arc Welding I, and Gas Tungsten Arc Welding II. The aforementioned purchases made through this bond fund will benefit students and local workforce by: creating a program that will develop a return on investment, increasing student credentials, increasing enrollment in career-focused postsecondary education, adding employable and trainable workers to the workforce. 

Valid, reliable, and research-based data that supports the identified needs are as follows:  According to statistics used during this years Mobile County Career Expo, the welding profession is one of the state’s highest demand and fastest growth professions with a need for 1,000 welders. Employable and trainable students in this area are needed now.  According to Accelerate Alabama, Alabama has more than 350 automotive companies, including OEMs Honda, Hyundai, and Mercedes-Benz, as well as their numerous suppliers and other support operations.   Moreover, Hyundai is investing $173 million and adding more than 200 jobs at the engine plant located at its OEM facility in Montgomery. Per meeting with Crenshaw County Hyundai suppliers on 10/24/2013, all operations will expand in the next year, thereby increasing the need for welders. Alabama has also recently experienced growth related to ship building. In 2010 Australian company Austal USA won a $3.8 billion contract to build 10 warships for the U.S. Navy by 2018, and is investing $160 million to double the size of its Module Manufacturing Facility as well as build a new office complex and assembly bay. According to the Governor’s Workforce Development Region 7, March 2013 Report, Table 7.9 indicates that manufacturing ranks 2^nd regarding employment within the 6 county region. 

Industry sectors to be served by the equipment purchase are as follows:  construction industry, manufacturing industry, shipbuilding industry. Specific occupations and median U.S. salaries are:  commercial diver ($47,000), welding inspector ($50,000), welding sales representative ($50,000) welding technicians ($55,000), plumber, pipefitter or steamfitter ($48,000), structural metal worker ($40,000), welder, cutter, solderer and brazer ($47,000), welder, cutter, solderer and brazer aide ($29,000), sheet-metal worker ($67,500), structural metal fabricator and fitter ($43,500), boilermaker ($47,000), and materials engineer ($84,000) (source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

We are excited about this new offering for our students and look forward to its implementation.