$9.4 million Center coming to Mobile

MOBILE, Ala. - With the breaking of a bottle of grape juice, Governor Bob Riley ushered in a new era for the Gulf Coast's shipbuilding industry.

"We knew if we were going to continue to lead America in job training and workforce development, then we'd have to do it differently," he said.

'Differently' means creating a Maritime Science Center that resembles a container ship. Planned by the Alabama Industrial Development Training organization, the facility will train at least 700 people a year for work in the shipbuilding industry.

"We're going to teach every trade or craft inside of a shipyard; electrical, shift-fitting, welding, pipe fitting, sheet metal, inside-outside machinists, all crafts," said Tony Hopper, the project coordinator and training instructor.

The center's architecture director Freddie Lynn, added, "A lot of the skills are transferable to other industries, such as the welding, and the pipe fitting, and forklift driving."

The 67,000 square foot center is scheduled to be completed by the fall of 2010, but those involved say its impact on the Gulf Coast should last far longer.

"There's going to be a great opportunity for people in the next 10 years to replace all the baby boomers who will be retiring in the next ten years," said Hopper.

Governor Riley added, "Alabama has led the nation in workforce development for years, and now I think we've taken it to the a different level."

The center is entirely funded by taxpayer dollars. The facility won't just benefit the shipbuilding industry, it will also help promote motorcycle safety. On weekends, the parking lot will be used as a safety training course for the Alabama Motorcycle Safety program.