MONTGOMERY, Ala. – As the conversation about data centers gains prevalence in Alabama, one area’s high school graduates are set to benefit from a company behind several of the massive facilities.
Every Bessemer City High School student who graduates between 2027 and 2030 will be eligible to receive a minimum $10,000 tuition scholarship for certain higher education institutions, Bessemer Mayor Kenneth Gulley announced earlier this month. Miles College, Lawson State Community College and Stillman College are participating in the program.
QTS, the company behind a proposed $14.5 billion hyperscale data center in the area, is funding the Bessemer Built scholarship. The Bessemer facility is in development and will “support digital infrastructure used by business and organizations across the country,” QTS’ website says.
The Virginia-based data center operator has committed $8 million to the scholarship, according to the Bessemer Built website.
But, as is the case with many data center projects in recent years, some in the community aren’t necessarily welcoming the announcement. Several advocacy groups, including the Alabama State Conference of the NAACP, have called for the city to reject the development citing environmental concerns.
Kimberly Hines, QTS’ vice president of philanthropy, said the company is proud to fund the scholarship and support Gulley’s goal of expanding educational and workforce opportunities for Bessemer students.
“Bessemer Built reflects what can happen when a community comes together around its students and their future…” Hines said in a statement. “We are committed to being a long-term partner in Bessemer, and this scholarship is just one example of the investments we plan to make to support the community’s growth and success for years to come.”
Four students will also receive four-year tuition scholarships to Miles and Stillman.
The scholarships are part of a larger Bessemer Built initiative to help students “live, learn, work and thrive” in and around the city. QTS is the program’s “lead corporate sponsor,” according to the program’s website.
“Talent is everywhere in Bessemer. Opportunity should be, too,” Gulley said in a statement. “Bessemer Built tells our young people that when they are ready to take the next step, their city is ready to invest in them. We want our students to live, learn, work and thrive in and around Bessemer and to see this as a place where they can build a good life.”
Students can also gain access to technology and skilled trade workforce development training through the program. The six workforce tracks are electrical trades, data center operations, environmental compliance, sustainability management, AI workforce development and real estate and finance.
The Same House, a public benefit company, will administer the Bessemer Built program.