BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Alabama officials continued the expansion of career and technical education opportunities Friday, unveiling plans for a $40 million CTE center in DeKalb County and launching a new statewide initiative to connect students with education and workforce opportunities.
Alabama Career Pathways is an online resource intended to help students identify routes from school into high-demand, high-wage careers and give families, educators and employers information about career programs across the state.
“Every major economic development win begins with a skilled workforce,” House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter said. He has taken a leading role in expanding CTE.
Ledbetter, R-Rainsville, said the state’s investments in CTE are intended to create opportunities for students, support Alabama businesses and make the state more competitive for new jobs.
“Alabama Career Pathways represents the next chapter in that commitment, and I am proud to see it come to fruition for our state’s students,” he said.
Officials also released a statewide Career and Technical Education Strategic Plan developed with input from Alabama’s education leaders, employers, economic developers and industry organizations.
The plan is designed to align CTE programs with Alabama’s broader economic development strategy, including Catalyst, the state’s comprehensive strategic plan for economic growth released in 2024.
Jon Barganier, president and CEO of Manufacture Alabama, said employers helped develop the strategic plan to ensure CTE programs reflect the needs of Alabama’s manufacturing and industrial sectors.
“By bringing education leaders and employers together, we’re ensuring students graduate with the skills businesses are looking for and that Alabama remains a top destination for investment and job creation,” Barganier said.
The initiative follows $250 million in recent state appropriations for career and technical education facilities. Lawmakers appropriated $100 million in 2025 and another $150 million in 2026 to expand and modernize programs.
DeKalb County’s planned Career Technical Education Center will be located in the Rainsville Industrial Park. The 95,000-square-foot facility is expected to cost $40 million.
WAFF reported that the new facility will replace the school district’s 55-year-old career tech center. Construction is expected to begin this fall, and it will take about two years to complete.
Nick Sapp also spoke about his experience with career and technical education, saying it gave him “direction, confidence and skills” he uses in his career.
“I’m living proof that these programs don’t just teach technical skills – they change lives,” Sapp said.