BY SPEAKIN’ OUT NEWS
ATHENS, Ala. — The Alabama Department of Workforce has opened a new Athens-Limestone Career Center at Athens State University, positioning Workforce Alabama to better meet growing workforce demands in one of the state’s fastest-expanding regions.
Located in Chasteen Hall on Athens State’s campus, the center is designed to connect job seekers with employers as rapid population and economic growth in Limestone County increases competition for skilled workers.
Workforce Alabama officials say the facility will serve as a frontline hub for education, training, and job placement, helping residents access employment opportunities while assisting businesses in finding qualified workers.
The Athens-Limestone Career Center is Workforce Alabama’s first career center in the Tennessee Valley and was nearly a year in development. According to reports, the center was launched to strengthen workforce and economic development efforts as business activity continues to accelerate across the region.
The project was made possible through a partnership between the Alabama Department of Workforce and Athens State University, which agreed to host the facility rent-free, allowing state workforce services to be delivered directly to the community.
Services offered through the center include resume assistance, job placement support, workforce and vocational training guidance, and employee pre-screening for employers seeking skilled candidates. Officials say the center’s three-pronged focus on education, training, and employment is intended to strengthen the local labor pipeline as job openings continue to grow.
State Sen. Arthur Orr said the new center reflects Limestone County’s rapid growth and the need to better align workers with available opportunities. Orr noted that he worked closely with Alabama Department of Workforce Secretary Greg Reed to bring the center to Athens.
“Getting a career center in Limestone County is a big deal,” Orr said, calling it vital for both job seekers and employers.
Workforce Alabama leaders described the center as a strategic investment in workforce and economic development and said additional initiatives are planned to build on the facility’s opening.
The Athens-Limestone Career Center is now open to the public and available to job seekers and employers throughout Limestone County.