Governor Bentley AIDT with Alabama Department of Commerce
By: Stephen Crews
Updated: June 7, 2012
As
part of his strategic realignment to increase jobs and investment in
the state, Governor Robert Bentley
today signed an executive order merging the Alabama Industrial
Development Training (AIDT) program with the Alabama Department of
Commerce.
The
benefit of the merger is increased efficiency in the state's job
creation efforts. The merger will also serve to further unite AIDT
efforts with
the state's economic developers and recruiters within the Department of
Commerce.
AIDT
is Alabama's job training incentive program and has been assisting
economic developers in their efforts to recruit businesses to Alabama
since
1971. AIDT has worked with the Department of Commerce (formerly Alabama
Development Office) throughout that time and has been especially
successful in not only recruiting businesses, but also in helping
companies recruit and train staff for their respective
facilities.
AIDT
currently manages on-site training facilities at Mercedes-Benz U.S.
International, Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, Hyundai Motor
Manufacturing
of Alabama, and ThyssenKrupp.
In addition, AIDT manages the newly-developed Robot Technology Park in
North Alabama and the Maritime Training Center in South Alabama. With
several offices and training centers
statewide, and a mobile training fleet with some 36 units, AIDT covers
the state.
"I
believe Alabama has the best workforce in the country, and part of the
reason for that is the dedicated training of AIDT," Governor Bentley
said.
"Throughout the state, we have many success stories of how AIDT has
trained and equipped people for success. The work of the AIDT has had a
lasting, positive impact on the success of employers around Alabama,
and it will continue to help train workers and
benefit companies in the years to come."
Department
of Commerce Secretary Greg Canfield said the Governor's actions will
help the state save on costs associated with fleet maintenance,
printing,
and web design and maintenance. Uniting AIDT and the Alabama Department
of Commerce simply makes sense from an efficiency standpoint, he said.
"AIDT
is one of the most effective economic development incentives we have in
Alabama," Secretary Canfield said. "It has an international reputation
for providing some of the best workforce recruitment and training
programs in the world. This team approach can only be a positive step
in helping us compete in an international arena for high-quality jobs
with skills sets that change rapidly."
Governor
Bentley's actions also help move forward the implementation of
Accelerate Alabama, the state's strategic plan providing direction for
Alabama's
economic development efforts over the next three years.
"We
at AIDT are very pleased, proud, and excited to be part of the
Department of Commerce and to have the opportunity to work with
Secretary Canfield
and his award-winning staff," AIDT Director Ed Castile added. "The
formal alignment of AIDT with the Department of Commerce gives the
citizens of Alabama a very powerful business development tool that will
enhance the successful implementation of the Governor's
Accelerate Alabama strategy."
