Staff Report
HOLLYWOOD – WAFF reported that on November 16, 2023, the Hard Hat Girls and Women of Jackson County held its second session with three times as many participants as its meeting in 2022.
The Hard Hat Girls and Women of Jackson County program is an Educational Workforce Development program for high school girls and women in CTE, Construction, and Manufacturing Programs and Occupations.
Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce collaborated and partnered with Scottsboro City Schools, Jackson County Schools, Business and Industry, Scottsboro Electric Power Board, Sand Mountain Electric Cooperative, North Alabama Electric Cooperative, and Career Coaches to develop and provide an Association for Girls and Women in CTE, Construction, and Manufacturing Programs/Careers.
“The focus of this organization is to share different opportunities for females in CTE, Construction, and Manufacturing, to educate and expose females to these types of careers, provide networking opportunities, and provide employment information,” said Nancy Griggs, Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce Talent Development Director. “The outcome of the group is to provide a potential pipeline of female skilled workers for the workforce and provide a network for females already working within these fields. Women in all construction and manufacturing jobs, including office workers and administrative workers, are only 11%. With this small percentage, we need to encourage and help influence more girls and women to enter into these industries. Your gender should never dissuade you from working in any industry.”
The group of more than ninety young women met with local companies at the Kevin Dukes Career and Innovation Academy to hear testimonials from industry professionals on why women should be interested in these male-dominated careers. Erica Estes, owner of Southern Heating and Cooling, spoke to those in attendance about her experience in the construction industry.
Many of the local companies represented are desperate to find more workers. According to WAFF, Founder and CEO of P and C Construction, Royce Cornelison, is pleased to see more young people and young women interested in pursuing this career path. Cornelison said, “It’s very encouraging to me to see that there is… The numbers are increasing; we’re getting more young people and young women encouraged to come into the construction career.”
Group participation is open to 10-12 graders in CTE, Construction, and Manufacturing programs, women in CTE, Construction, and Manufacturing Careers, student advisors, and partnering companies. For more information, contact the Mountain Lakes Chamber of Commerce.
