Limestone County (AL) Economic Development Association

The LCEDA team recently attended two #VeteransDay ???? ceremonies hosted by Visit North Alabama & Athens State University. We thank all of the Veterans who served to protect our country.

The ribbon (and cornbread) is officially cut at the new Lodge Cast Iron Factory Store in Athens, Alabama. This is the first factory store outside the state of Tennessee. Welcome to Athens and Limestone County! ?? 1031b US Hwy 72 E, Athens, AL 35611 #ribboncutting #grandopening #castiron

Athens State University celebrated the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the new Crime Analyzation, Simulation, and Experimentation Laboratory (CASElab) today. Located on campus in the Freehauf House, the CASElab provides educational training to Homeland and Corporate Security and Criminal Justice programs, as well as the Child Advocacy Studies Training (CAST). In addition, the lab will offer opportunities to conduct crime scene reenactments, academic research, and mock case simulations. The CASElab will allow students to conduct exercises in everything from initial and critical responses, case management, home visits, active shooter, cyber criminology, crime scene and forensic investigations, fingerprinting analysis, drug identification, crisis prevention, and evidence collection. Students will have access to professional equipment and utilize best practices regarding crime scene documentation, photography, measurements, and evidence collection techniques. In the lab’s training area, students will have the ability to analyze ballistics (e.g., comparisons of bullet striations, firing pin comparisons, etc.), prints from various surfaces, tire and foot impressions, physical and trace evidence, and blood spatter at the scene of a crime for documentation purposes used for police reports, child abuse cases, and other legal documents. “The primary purpose of the CASElab is to implement investigative techniques utilized in the identification, collection, preservation, and analysis of evidence,” said Dr. Quanda Stevenson, Professor of Criminal Justice. “The CASElab is a dedicated space for our students to engage in experiential learning through role-playing scenarios and various investigation exercises. This lab will provide students with opportunities to apply what they learn in class in a simulated space so they can learn in a safe and controlled environment. In addition, students will learn techniques used by the FBI, first responders, MDT, DHR, child advocacy, forensic experts, investigators, and other local, state and federal agencies. The lab will allow faculty and practitioners to fully train our students with workforce readiness skills.” “At Athens State, we recognize the fragile nature of our law enforcement ecosystem and the critical need for a well-trained workforce in Criminal Justice,” said Dr. David Ragsdale, Dean of the College of Arts & Sciences. “The new CASElab, along with thriving academic programs in Criminal Justice and Homeland and Corporate Security, demonstrate Athens State’s commitment and ability to deliver high-quality programs and relevant workforce support to our students and community.” For more information about Athens State’s Criminal Justice, CAST, and Homeland and Corporate Security programs, please visit athens.edu/programs. Enrollment for the Spring 2025 semester begins on November 1.

Apple cider slushies and The Fiddler’s Convention marked the official start of the fall season in Athens, but there are still plenty of fall events in Athens. Read more from Hville Blast:

Athens-Limestone Hospital is proud to announce the installation of a Safe Haven Baby Box, providing mothers in crisis with a secure, anonymous way to surrender their newborns. This initiative makes the hospital the seventh facility in Alabama to offer this vital resource, reinforcing the Safe Haven Law and promoting newborn safety. The box is located at 210 Horton St.

Congratulations to Pryor Field Airport Authority on the groundbreaking for their $3.5 million new Southeast Taxiway to allow access to the Airport’s Southeast Development site ?? City of Decatur Alabama Dale Strong Goodwyn Mills Cawood (GMC)

We are excited to continue highlighting our 2024 LCEDA/Athens-Limestone Chamber of Commerce Scholarship Awardees. Our next feature is Tailan Hall. He studies at Sewanee: The University of the South, focusing on healthcare. Tailan says, "As an aspiring orthopedic surgeon, I am driven by the prospect of positively influencing the lives of those I serve." Congratulations, Tailan!

On September 24, 2024, Cast Products Inc. located in Athens, Alabama, broke ground on a new facility and foundry that will double their molding/melt capacity and significantly advance their production capabilities. Inside the facility will be a state-of-the-art sand casting foundry with an automated 32”x32” molding machine capable of producing 100 molds/hour, an automated mold handling line, and a complete 60 ton per hour sand delivery and return system.

Alongside state and local leaders, Commerce Secretary Ellen McNair today celebrated the official launch of construction on a cutting-edge $30 million workforce training center at the Alabama Robotics Technology Park near Decatur. This new facility is set to propel the state’s automotive industry into the future by equipping workers with the skills needed for electric vehicle (EV) production and other emerging technologies. Named The EV Technology Center, the facility is a key component of Alabama’s long-term strategy to strengthen its position as a leader in advanced manufacturing and EV innovation. The center will ensure that Alabama’s automotive workforce is ready to meet the demands of next-generation vehicle production with a focus on high-tech, sustainable solutions. READ MORE: https://lnkd.in/e9eQuzDb

The?Alabama Automotive Manufacturers Association?and the?Alabama Community College System?are teaming up to help Alabamians pursue a technical education certificate or associate degree in preparation for a career related to the automotive manufacturing industry. Please share with any?High School Senior or College Freshman interested in pursuing an automotive manufacturing-related career in Alabama. The deadline for scholarship applications is Monday, Nov. 4, 2024. (MORE INFO & APPLICATION LINK):?https://lnkd.in/ekAfyi4q