Montgomery, Ala. – A new pathway to skilled jobs arrived this week as the Academy of Craft Training cut the ribbon on its Central Alabama campus in the city’s CCC Business Park. The campus, the fourth in the state, is the result of a public‑private partnership with the Alabama State Department of Education, underscoring a shared commitment to prepare the next generation for the booming commercial construction sector.
Hands‑on training for high‑school juniors and seniors
The Montgomery location will enroll 189 students entering the 11th and 12th grades. Those learners represent nine school districts and 23 high schools across the region. Over the next year, they will complete a curriculum that blends classroom theory with real‑world practice, finishing their training in May 2027.
Courses cover a broad range of trades essential to modern construction projects: commercial electrical work, heating, ventilation and air‑conditioning (HVAC), refrigeration, mechanical and industrial metal fabrication, welding, plumbing and pipe fitting. The academy’s goal is for every participant to earn OSHA‑approved safety training or the National Center for Construction Education and Research (NCCER) safety certification, credentials that signal readiness to employers nationwide.
Internships and job‑shadowing opportunities
Beyond classroom instruction, ACT provides internship placements that let students job‑shadow professionals during holiday, fall and spring breaks. These experiences give students a glimpse of daily life on construction sites, reinforcing the skills they learn on campus and helping them build professional networks before graduation.
Registration for the 2027‑2028 school year opens soon
ACT will begin accepting applications for the 2027‑2028 cohort on October 1. Academy leaders plan an active outreach campaign, visiting schools and meeting with administrators, counselors and teachers to identify motivated students who can benefit from the program. By targeting high‑school juniors and seniors, the academy aims to smooth the transition from education to gainful employment.
Local officials praised the initiative as a boost to the community’s workforce pipeline. “Providing our young people with market‑ready skills strengthens families and supports the economic health of Montgomery,” said a representative from the Alabama State Department of Education. “This partnership demonstrates how government and industry can work together for the common good.”
Construction firms across the state have expressed enthusiasm for the program, noting a growing demand for qualified tradespeople. With the nation’s infrastructure agenda accelerating, the academy’s graduates are poised to fill critical gaps in the labor market, helping to keep projects on schedule and within budget.
Location and future outlook
The campus sits at 3617 Wetumpka Highway, a site chosen for its accessibility to students from multiple districts. As the fourth ACT location in Alabama, the Montgomery campus joins facilities in Birmingham, Huntsville and Mobile, creating a statewide network that can share best practices and expand training capacity as demand rises.
Community leaders anticipate that the academy will not only equip students with technical expertise but also instill a strong work ethic rooted in family values and personal responsibility—principles that align with the traditions of the region.
For more information about enrollment, program details or partnership opportunities, interested parties can visit the Academy of Craft Training website.
Original reporting: Alabama News Network — read the source article.
