West AlabamaWorks!

West AlabamaWorks! trains and matches highly skilled job seekers with employers in nine primarily rural counties in West Alabama. Created through a partnership between the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama and the Region 3 Workforce Development Council in 2014, the coalition has grown to include more than 250 representatives from business and industry, K–12 school districts, higher education institutions, nonprofits, service providers, and state and local government.

The organization partners to provide opportunities for students beginning in pre-K through high school graduation. Through its many initiatives, West AlabamaWorks! has matched thousands of job seekers with employers. For example, its Modern Manufacturing Center of Excellence, which facilitates internships, apprenticeships, and direct hires, has served nearly 1,400 students since 2021, preparing them for entry-level careers with manufacturers such as Mercedes-Benz, Honda, Hyundai, and Toyota. Another program, Building Hope AL, which matches justice-involved individuals with jobs, has more than 1,735 registered individuals and 42 participating companies.