Calhoun County, AL — Calhoun County Career Academy announced Tuesday that it has received a $2.48 million grant from the Alabama State Department of Education to support construction of a new facility aimed at expanding career and technical education opportunities for students across the Calhoun County School District.
The grant was announced Sept. 15 at the Career Academy in Jacksonville, with State Sen. Keith Kelley joining school officials, dignitaries and community leaders for the announcement.
The planned facility will include a cafeteria, meeting space and additional classrooms. School officials said the expansion will provide additional capacity and flexibility as the academy works to serve more students, expand existing programs and develop additional career pathways.
“This project represents more than a facilities expansion,” Calhoun County Schools Superintendent Tony Willis said. “It is an investment in Alabama’s workforce. By expanding opportunities in skilled trades and technical education, we will strengthen partnerships with local employers, increase access to industry-recognized credentials, and better prepare students for high-wage, high-demand careers that support the economic growth of our region.”
Kelley said the project represents an opportunity to address workforce needs throughout Northeast Alabama.
“This project represents one of the most significant opportunities to strengthen workforce development in Northeast Alabama and directly supports the goals of Alabama’s workforce strategy,” Kelley said.
Kelley noted increasing demand for skilled workers across Workforce Development Region 2, particularly in skilled trades, advanced manufacturing, construction, healthcare and technical career fields. He said the Career Academy has played a role in connecting students with training for those fields.
The Calhoun County Career Academy is one of 18 campuses within the Calhoun County School District and serves students in grades 10 through 12 from high schools across the district.
The academy currently offers programs in Additive Manufacturing, Automotive Technologies, Building Construction, Collision Repair, Cosmetology, Culinary, Electrical, Health Science, HVAC, Precision Machine, Welding Technologies and JAG.
Students have access to more than a dozen credentialing opportunities, including AHLA, ASE, AWS, Certified Clinical Medical Assistant, NCCER CORE, Natural Hair License, NIMS and ServSafe Manager certifications, along with Skills for Success courses.
Five programs — Additive Manufacturing, Building Construction, Collision Repair, Precision Machining and Welding Technologies — also offer dual enrollment opportunities through Gadsden State Community College, allowing participating students to earn college credit while completing technical training.
“Our partnerships with industry and higher education are an important part of what makes career and technical education successful for our students,” Career Academy Principal Lauren Young said. “This new facility will give us the space and flexibility to build on those partnerships and create even more opportunities for our students.”
The academy experienced record enrollment during the 2025-26 school year, according to school officials. The district said the new facility will allow the Career Academy to build on that growth by serving additional students, expanding programs and strengthening connections between education and the regional workforce.
A construction timeline and anticipated completion date for the new facility were not included released.
