SAWDC AlabamaWorks is an employer-established and employer-led non-profit organization whose mission is to develop strategic partnerships which attract, educate and train students and workers to better meet employer needs and foster economic growth in a global marketplace. With a vision to create a fully comprehensive, integrated workforce development system, SAWDC, one of thirty-two nationally designated National Fund for Workforce Solutions (NFWS) sites, has established four high quality workforce partnerships – a sound strategy modeled by NFWS for helping individuals obtain and advance in good careers while at the same time ensuring that employers have high-quality skills that are needed to compete in today’s dynamic economy.

The four industry clusters – aviation, maritime, industrial construction/manufacturing, and healthcare – were chosen due to the high demand and high growth prospects for these industries. With a dual customer approach, SAWDC convenes, organizes key stakeholders, and maintains persistent attention to the needs of the two main customers: employers and workers. By engaging employers and other partners in identifying workforce needs, SAWDC aligns funding from various sources and brokers services that address the career advancement needs of employers and lower-skilled adults.