Oxford, AL – The Calhoun County Area Chamber & Visitor’s Center, in partnership with Gadsden State Community College, is set to host a Regional Chamber Breakfast on Thursday, April 3, from 8 to 9 a.m. The event will take place at 1 Cliff Garrett Dr., Oxford, AL, and is sponsored by The City of Oxford and Gadsden State Community College.
The breakfast will serve as a platform to introduce the Choccolocco Research, Education, and Technical Experience (CREATE) initiative. This regional education, workforce development, and technology center aims to equip students with the necessary skills for postsecondary careers while addressing the growing workforce demands of East Alabama businesses and industries.
CREATE will offer training and credentialing opportunities across multiple career pathways, structured in three phases:
- Phase 1 (August 2024): Engineering, Green Power, Computer Science, Robotics, Comprehensive Commercial Construction, Modern Manufacturing, and the development of Criminal Justice classrooms. This phase will initially be open to Oxford students.
- Phase 2 (August 2025): Cybersecurity, Mechanical and Electrical Industrial Maintenance, Mechatronics, Transportation, Distribution, Logistics, and STEM Research, Innovation, and Technology Development. Enrollment will expand to students from Calhoun, Cleburne, Clay, Talladega, and St. Clair counties.
- Phase 3 (August 2026): Aviation training programs, with continued acceptance of students from the five participating counties.
Beyond high school education, CREATE will also provide upskill training for adults and incumbent worker training during evening hours, further enhancing workforce development opportunities in the region.
The initiative is made possible through collaborative efforts among municipalities, school districts, the local economic development council, regional business and industry leaders, and both state and local elected officials. CREATE is expected to become a pioneering workforce development and technology center in Alabama, located in Calhoun County at the heart of East Alabama.
Community leaders, business professionals, and educators are encouraged to attend the breakfast event to learn more about CREATE’s potential impact on workforce development and economic growth in the region.
