Bevill State Partners with Alabama Power for State-of-the-Art HVAC Training Facility

May 12, 2017

Bevill State Community College (BSCC) is pleased to announce that the Alabama Community College System (ACCS) Board of Trustees voted to approve a Joint Program Development Agreement on May 10 between the College and Alabama Power. The agreement provided for the relocation and development of a state-of-the-art HVAC Training Center. This joint venture will relocate the facility from Clanton to Jasper, Ala., and expand the program and course certificate options for future participants through an arrangement and program transfer with Bevill State Community College.

The HVAC Training Center will provide six functional classrooms, six designated learning laboratory areas, a minimum of six offices and an auditorium accommodating up to 100 participants. Bevill State will retrofit the building to be able to receive equipment from Alabama Power for HVAC training.

The purpose of the training center is to prepare students with the technical skills necessary to be effective in the HVAC industry, including product application, product installation, performance analysis and product service. Alabama Power’s resources, instructors, participants and students will be integrated into the new HVAC Training Center.

“Bevill State Community College is excited about expanding our partnership with Alabama Power (Southern Company) to include the development of this state-of-the-art HVAC Training Facility. The College has a proven cooperative relationship with Alabama Power that has been mutually beneficial to both parties’ objectives. And, Bevill State has a longstanding commitment to both workforce solutions and economic development for our service area and beyond. The relocation and expansion of this program to Jasper will have a positive impact for Bevill, Alabama Power, program attendees and the economic vitality of the area,” stated Dr. Kim Ennis, President of Bevill State Community College.

Since 1986, Alabama Power’s HVAC Training Center has provided training, professional development and continued education to over 33,000 participants from 45 states and four countries.

“The outcome of this strong partnership with Bevill State will be long-term, high-value career growth not only for the current workforce but for the next generation,” said Jeff Peoples, Alabama Power vice president of Human Resources and Ethics. “The relocation of the HVAC Training Center is a key step in providing these opportunities as well as helping grow the state’s workforce system.”

Bevill State is committed to providing comprehensive education, workforce and educational support services for people in Alabama and the United States. The College seeks to provide quality education, training and retraining for the workforce, including basic skills education, occupational, career technical, and pre-baccalaureate programs.

Jimmy H. Baker, Chancellor of the Alabama Community College System said, “This project is a great example of a public-private partnership. It will benefit not only Bevill State and Alabama Power but also our state as a whole.”

BSCC also supports economic development through services to business and industry, both public and private, including working with companies to develop the necessary customized workforce training programs necessitated for a viable workforce. These workforce development initiatives are responsive to industry needs and can range from highly specialized training to programs that help prepare entry level employees to meeting growing demands.

This Joint Program Development Agreement was reached through the cooperation, efforts and support of Alabama Power, Bevill State Community College, the Alabama Community College System and elected officials.

“This is tremendous news for our community and college. I commend Dr. Ennis and Alabama Power for their collaborative work in making the new HVAC training program and facility possible,” Senate Majority Leader Greg Reed (R-Jasper) remarked. “This partnership between Bevill State Community College and industry is exactly the type of innovative educational model that will give our young people the training necessary for a chance at long-term, well-paying jobs today and in the future.”

A press conference on the partnership will be held at the future HVAC Training Center location. The details of this press conference will be provided as soon as they are available.

For more information contact Tana L. Collins at 800.648.3271 ext. 5742 or by email at tana.collins@bscc.edu. Please visit our website at www.bscc.edu.