J.F. Ingram State Technical College (ISTC) celebrated the opening of its new Workforce Training Facility at the Perry County Probation and Parole Reentry Education Program (PREP) Center in Uniontown on Wednesday, Sept. 23.
The new facility expands ISTC’s workforce training at the PREP Center, providing dedicated space for participants to develop hands-on technical skills and earn industry-recognized credentials as they prepare to enter the workforce.
ISTC President David Walters joined Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles (ABPP) Director Cam Ward, state Sen. Bobby Singleton, representatives from the Alabama Community College System, state and local leaders, workforce partners and community stakeholders for the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“This facility is about much more than a building,” Walters said. “It is about what happens inside these walls and what happens after our students leave them. We want participants to walk out of the PREP Center with the skills, credentials and confidence to step into a job, build a career, support their families and become productive members of their communities.”
Hands-On Training for Alabama Careers
ISTC provides adult education and workforce training at the PREP Center. The new facility adds dedicated space for hands-on instruction in areas such as entry-level welding, electrical, carpentry and heavy equipment operation.
These are among the many training areas ISTC offers to help participants develop practical skills for high-demand careers across Alabama.
Participants can also earn industry-recognized credentials, including OSHA 10, NCCER, Alabama Career Essentials and forklift certifications.
The facility allows participants to train with tools and equipment in a setting that more closely reflects the conditions they may encounter on the job. That experience helps students connect what they learn in the classroom with the skills they will be expected to use in the workplace.
A Partnership Focused on Reentry
ISTC’s work at the PREP Center is made possible through its partnership with ABPP and support from partners across the state.
Ward spoke during Wednesday’s ceremony about the partnership behind the PREP Center and the role education and workforce training play in preparing participants for reentry.
Singleton also addressed guests during the ceremony, recognizing the work taking place at the center and the importance of preparing individuals for employment.
PREP Center participant Kelvin McGuire shared his experience at the center and spoke about how education and training are helping him prepare for the future.
For ISTC, the goal is to ensure participants leave training with skills they can put to work. The college works to connect its programs with the needs of Alabama employers so students are training for jobs and careers available in communities across the state.
“Imagine someone leaving here with credentials in hand and the confidence to walk onto a job site knowing they are prepared to do the work,” Walters said. “Then imagine that same person five or 10 years from now — established in a career, providing for a family and contributing to a community. That is the long-term impact we are working toward, and it is only possible because of the partners who have committed to doing this work together.”
Preparing Participants for the Workforce
The new Workforce Training Facility gives ISTC additional space and resources to continue its work at the Perry County PREP Center.
Through education, technical training and industry-recognized credentials, ISTC is preparing participants with skills they can take directly into the workforce. The goal is simple: students leave better prepared for employment, employers gain access to trained workers and participants have a stronger foundation for success after reentry.