Health Sciences teacher Tracy Smith looks on as Hanceville seniors Destiny Short and Gracie Hudspeth explain their use of medical simulation training equipment to Appalachian Regional Commission Federal Co-Chair Tim Thomas. (W.C. Mann for The Cullman Tribune)
CULLMAN COUNTY – On Friday, Federal Co-Chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) Tim Thomas and staff members, along with Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) Director Kenneth Boswell and Sen. Garlan Gudger, R-Cullman stopped by the Cullman Area Technology Academy (CATA) during a tour of schools and industries around Cullman County that have had projects supported by recent ARC and ADECA grants.
Cullman Economic Development Agency (CEDA) Director Dale Greer was proud to watch as CATA Health Sciences faculty and students explained the use of grant-funded medical simulation equipment to the visitors.
Afterward, he talked about the rest of the group’s itinerary:
“From here, (they are) going across to the Child Development Center to look at playground equipment, to see if there’s something that can help with it. Then we’re going to look at a couple of industries where they’ve contributed some money: to the Sequence Health building, they gave us a little money on both the building and the property, which made it viable to work on that project, and we built that building and leased it back to the company, but they’re going to hire 130 people, primarily out of the health industry.
“Then we’re going by AGCOR Steel. And (ADECA) gave a little bit of money toward putting a sewer upgrade there that allowed us to build the building, and save those 30 jobs and create 30 more. Then we’re going to Wallace (State) where they’ve put in a number of projects, primarily for equipment and training, and that type of thing.
“So, it’s a great opportunity for us to show where some of their money’s going and how it’s being used, and just maybe, with any luck at all, it gives us an opportunity to ask for a little more, if we’re showing them we’re really doing it right.”
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