The U.S. Navy announced Monday that it will provide $30 million to the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) to modernize and expand maritime workforce training at four south Alabama community colleges.
The funding will help the colleges to expand their submarine manufacturing and shipbuilding training programs and assist the Navy in building one Columbia-class and two Virginia-class submarines each year, which is a five-fold increase, according to ACCS. All community colleges across Alabama will also benefit from the programs’ expertise and contribute to the overall program, officials said.
The new funding will directly benefit Bishop State Community College and Coastal Alabama Community College, which already have a long history in maritime workforce training, plus Lurleen B. Wallace Community College and Reid State Community College. The investment will help to implement specialized curricula in maritime welding, structural fitting and pipefitting at all four colleges, the system said…