Special to the Enquirer

Hartselle High School has been chosen as one of four North Alabama schools that will participate in a pilot program called Modern Manufacturing.

The program is in participation with North AlabamaWorks, and was launched this past week at the Alabama Robotics Technology Park in Tanner. School representatives, along with industry leaders from the Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing and Toyota Motor Manufacturing Alabama were in attendance.

As manufacturing is a leading industry sector in the state of Alabama, and preparing students to enter the field is essential for the state’s economy, the program will help young Alabamians prepare for entering the workforce.

Aligned with industry standards, the Modern Manufacturing program immerses high school students in hands-on training that prepares them for direct entry into industry or further training.

Students have the opportunity to earn multiple industry certifications in high school while also learning employability skills like teamwork and punctuality. Modern Manufacturing students may opt to enroll in industry-led community college programs, while others will immediately enter the workforce.

As the program develops, the Modern Manufacturing Program will be offered for expansion into additional North Alabama schools.