DeKalb County schools are set to receive an $18 million grant from the state, a development highlighted during the School Board meeting on August 21. Principal Wayne Lyles expressed delight at this funding for the creation of a new Career Technology Center.
“Director Eric McKee informed us that the DeKalb County Schools Career Tech Center will get $18 million for the new facility,” Lyles remarked. “We’re really grateful for this!”
The planned center will span about 95,000 square feet, with total expenses expected to reach around $40 million, covering nearly half of the project’s cost. It’s situated on 42 acres within Rainsville Industrial Park, close to the Dekalb County 911 Centre and RTI. This land was procured last year, with assistance from the Rainsville City Council and the Rainsville Industry Committee.
Lyles also noted a significant increase in enrolment at the existing facility, growing from 401 students in 2021 to over 830 this year, prompting the need for a larger, safer environment. The new center will include a Fine Arts Academy featuring programs in cybersecurity, advanced manufacturing, and business multimedia marketing, alongside an 800-seat theater.
“This grant is meant to boost educational opportunities for all students in DeKalb County, including Fort Payne City,” Lyles added, acknowledging Fort Payne City’s role in supporting the project as a community workforce development center.
House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter (R-Rainsville), instrumental in securing $100 million statewide for career technology grants, emphasized the necessity of this investment for Alabama’s future workforce.
“Alabama’s workforce participation is worryingly low,” he stated, noting the age of this challenge. “We seem to have let down generations, and we need to find a way to address this.” He underscored the importance of extending career technology options throughout the state.
“If this clears the House, we’ll see more funding next year, or we might not pass the budget. So, it’s vital,” he remarked.
Ledbetter acknowledged the fast-changing job market, adding, “Many jobs that exist today weren’t around four years ago. When considering Career Tech, think about how it impacts your children—not just now, but in the next five, ten, or even fifteen years.”
Senate Majority Leader Steve Livingston (R-Scottsboro) also voiced support for the initiative, noting, “Our current facilities are quite outdated. While we had a Career Tech Center, upgrades remain overdue to meet the tech demands of today’s workforce. We’re eager to see the positive impact this will have on students and residents of Northeast Alabama.”
With the construction of a modern career technology center in DeKalb County, this investment reflects Alabama’s commitment to enhancing career and technical education statewide. Leaders suggest this initiative will not only equip students for high-demand career paths but will also contribute to Alabama’s long-term economic success by cultivating a highly skilled workforce.
