Amanda Pevey
Elmore Autauga News
As Central Alabama Community College continues to expand its footprint in Prattville, college leaders say their focus remains on one goal: preparing students for careers while helping local employers build the workforce they need.
That message was at the forefront of the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce’s July Chamber Champion Luncheon on Wednesday at Catfish House, where business leaders heard updates on the college’s rapid growth, new workforce initiatives and a $25 million Workforce Center currently under construction near the Prattville campus.
Brandy Mitchell, dean of academics and Prattville site coordinator for Central Alabama Community College, said the college has experienced remarkable growth since opening its Prattville campus in 2021, expanding both academic programs and partnerships with area industries.
“We are here to support you,” Mitchell said. “Whatever that looks like, we are a just-in-time service for you. If there is specific training that you need that we can provide, either through our Skills for Success program or directly through one of our faculty, we are here to help support you any way that we can.”
Mitchell said enrollment has increased by 57% since 2020, while dual enrollment has grown by 113% across the college’s service area. In Autauga County alone, the number of dual enrollment students has more than doubled through partnerships with local school systems.
The Prattville campus has expanded its career and technical offerings to include welding, industrial maintenance, business and computer information systems, with machining and industrial automation technology set to join the lineup.
One of the college’s newest initiatives is its Earn and Learn apprenticeship program in industrial automation technology. Students spend part of each week in the classroom and the remainder working alongside local industry partners, gaining valuable experience while earning a paycheck.
Mitchell said the program was created with employers and students in mind.
“These students will work directly with these employers, three days a week, and they will take classes two days a week,” she said. “They are getting hands-on experience while they are going to school, so it’s a fantastic opportunity.”
She also highlighted the college’s continued success in national manufacturing competitions, research opportunities, study abroad programs and its nursing apprenticeship program, which is one of the largest in Alabama.
Looking toward the future, Mitchell said construction is underway on a 50,000-square-foot Workforce Center adjacent to the Prattville campus. The $25 million facility will house several career and technical programs and expand workforce training opportunities for the region.
Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce Chairman-Elect Stacey Little said the college’s impact reaches well beyond the classroom.
“You can see that CACC is such an asset to our community,” Little said. “We appreciate the partnership that we have with CACC, not only for supporting us financially, but also for being a resource to the Chamber and so many organizations throughout our community.”
According to the college, Central Alabama Community College generates an estimated $98 million annual economic impact while supporting nearly 1,500 jobs throughout the region.
The Chamber’s monthly luncheons give local business leaders an opportunity to connect while learning about organizations and initiatives shaping the Prattville area. Wednesday’s program underscored how the partnership between education, business and industry continues to strengthen the local workforce and support the community’s long-term growth.
