SYLACAUGA, Ala. – The Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement (SAFE), in collaboration with Central Alabama Community College (CACC), hosted its first Skid Steer Training at the East Alabama Rural Innovation and Training Hub (EARTH) on Tuesday and Wednesday, Oct. 1-2.
The free, two-day course equipped local participants with the skills needed to operate heavy machinery, such as skid steers, in an effort to increase employability in the region’s growing industries.
Seven trainees, including Malachi Vereen, completed the program and received certificates of completion.
“I’m going to complete all the courses that CACC has to offer,” noted Vereen. “The [training] for the skid steer, the excavator, the bulldozer, and the asphalt roller, too. One day I want to start my own business, but for right now, this will help me to join a workforce team.”
Chris Dupree, CACC’s skid steer instructor, expressed the importance of hands-on experience.
“This training gives these young people an opportunity to learn a skill that makes them marketable in the workforce,” Dupree said. “These machines are expensive, and most employers won’t allow trainees without prior experience to operate them. This course opens doors for them.”
Vereen praised the training for its accessibility and practicality. “It was free, and I learned a lot. The instructor, Mr. Dupree, was amazing,” Vereen pointed out.
SAFE Executive Director Margaret Morton highlighted the long-standing partnership between CACC and SAFE, which began in 1997 with adult education programs.
“This is exactly what we envisioned for EARTH – providing training and career opportunities to our community,” Morton said.
The Skid Steer Training is part of a broader initiative to offer workforce development programs and create career pathways throughout Alabama.
