LBWCC is now partnered with the Consortium for Alabama Regional Center for Automotive Manufacturing (CARCAM).

CARCAM is one of 42 regional national Science Foundation advanced technological education (ate) Centers and offers an outreach model beginning in the secondary education system to attract, enroll, and graduate a diverse population of students in manufacturing careers, said Allen Teel, Advanced Manufacturing Division chair.

 “This partnership developed through LBW’s award of the national Science Foundation grant to educate technicians in energy efficiency,” he said. “it gives us a wider platform in which to network and provides opportunities for experienced faculty to work with regional industry partners in recruiting and educating highly-skilled technicians within the state of Alabama.”

CARCAM engages with other partnerships to share best practices and advance automotive education in other regions. it works with the Alabama industrial Development training (AIDT), an industry leader in education for start-up companies, and the Alabama technology network, which addresses the ongoing education needs of Alabama’s companies.

The mission of CARCAM, according to carcam.org, is to respond to rapid advanced manufacturing sector growth by establishing and implementing methods to develop a highly skilled, diverse technical workforce and provide state-of-the-art professional development.

“We are pleased to be one of 15 Alabama community colleges involved with the CARCAM network,” said Teel.