First Stop on mission to help homeless get off the streets

Joe Jackson sits on a short retaining wall strumming his guitar and singing softly as passersby go in and out of a local store, a derby-like hat bottom-side up a few yards in front of him gathering donations. He says he’d retired from the military and an engineering job, once toured the U.S. and Europe […]

Boeing Reaffirms Commitment to HBCUs with $8 Million Investment Through Thurgood Marshall College Fund

Today, Boeing (NYSE: BA) and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF) announced a new $8 million, multi-year partnership to support the development of future technical talent. The Boeing l TMCF partnership renewal will support campus recruitment initiatives, career immersion activities, TMCF Leadership Institute programming and student scholarships at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through 2026. “Our company’s […]

Businesses Taking Steps to Smooth Transition Back to Physical Workspaces

As the pandemic wanes and most people are comfortably venturing out in public again, businesses are increasingly calling for employees to return to the office. While essential workers and those who solely relied on in-person interactions commuted to their jobs throughout the pandemic, many knowledge-based positions, particularly in the tech sector, shifted to strictly virtual […]

National unemployment research shows 2.2% increase in Huntsville Metro

At the national level, many key employment indicators in the U.S. look similar to before the COVID-19 pandemic, and robust employment growth plays a part in that. But the impact the coronavirus had on employment can’t be overstated.  Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that job losses in the spring of 2020 […]

Huntsville Madison County Builders Association to Host OSHA Training Institute Education Center

The Huntsville Madison County Builders Association (HMCBA) has been selected as a Host Training Organization by Volunteer State Community College’s OSHA Training Institute (OTI) Education Center.  OTI Education Centers offer courses designed to reduce workplace fatalities and injuries by teaching the application of OSHA standards for hazard recognition and prevention. OSHA authorizes OTI Education Centers […]

Drake State, WGU Enter Partnership to Facilitate Continuing Education

Huntsville-based Drake State and Community Technical College has formally entered into a partnership with online, non-profit institution Western Governors University, to provide Drake State alumni and employees with affordable plans for four-year and graduate degree programs.  Dr. Kimberly Estep, WGU’s Southeast Regional Vice President, represented the online institution at a signing event held at Drake […]

New contract benefits Machinist Union members in Decatur

DECATUR – Jamie Littlefield has been in his position as a union Business Representative for roughly five months, and he’s already been a part of a major contract agreement affecting an area branch. While recently representing District 75 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), which includes Local 44 of the United […]

The Great Return, and the Future of Work

Like many other American cities, Huntsville is beginning to emerge from the COVID-induced hibernation, with companies recalling their workers to traditional offices.  A great many of these workers are part of the Federal workforce, who are following the directives of the Biden administration.  At the State of the Union speech, President Biden called on workers […]

Drake State CSI Program Partners Students with Industry

As the demand for skilled technicians continues to grow, Drake State and local industry partners are teaming up for a win-win-win proposition. The Drake State CSI (Connecting Students with Industry) Advanced Industrial Maintenance (AIM) Program will match five companies with the right students as they pursue a two-year technical associate degree.  The CSI program combines […]

UNA’s state appropriation increase for fiscal year 2023 shows benefits for prospective Huntsville students, North Alabama workforce

Ever since Dr. Ken Kitts, President of the University of North Alabama (UNA), began Project 208 back in 2017, one of the major goals of the Florence-based university has been to rediscover its importance in North Alabama’s economic development and educational impact.  Dr. Kitts stated that Project 208, named after the 208 miles that separate […]