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Industry alliance praised "This is the first meeting that I have been a part of where industry has been so well represented and has played such a strong role in partnering with education for workforce development initiatives," said Dr. Matthew Hughes, Director of Gov. Bob Riley's Office of Workforce Development at a recent workforce development meeting held at Alabama Southern Community College's Thomasville campus. "The industry of Southwest Alabama has significantly stepped up to the plate to partner with Alabama Southern in sponsoring scholarships-internships-jobs and in turn Alabama Southern has stepped up to the plate to meet the needs of local industry. This model should be replicated in all areas of the state," added Hughes. Members of the Alabama Pulp and Paper Council (APPCO) and Postsecondary education met on the Thomasville campus of Alabama Southern to hear about school's nationally recognized Industry Alliance program. "The goal of this meeting is to share information from the Alabama Southern Industry Alliance model, its partners and how the scholarships-internships jobs process is working to train the workforce for Southwest Alabama," stated Rick Oates, Executive Director of APPCO. "We are proud of the work that Alabama Southern and its industry partners have done to become nationally recognized for this training initiative." This Scholarships- Internships-Jobs partnership was pioneered in 1995 between Alabama Southern and CIBA Specialty Chemicals. Eight of the advanced technology manufacturers in Southwest Alabama have committed approximately 40 scholarships and internships to recruit top students into a pipeline to the region's best jobs. These scholarships and internships are for one of four advanced technology programs depending upon industry needs: (1) Paper and Chemical Technology, (2) Instrumentation and Robotics, (3) Industrial Maintenance and Electrical Technology, and (4) Machine Technology Millwright. "This industry alliance reflects the visionary leadership of our local industry leaders," said Dr. John A. Johnson, Alabama Southern President. "They know that a technologically advanced workforce is the key to their success." The eight members of the Alabama Southern Industry Alliance include Alabama River Pulp, Boise Paper, CIBA, Louisiana Pacific and Temple Inland, Weyerhaeuser, Olin Chemical and Rock Tenn. The Alabama Pulp and Paper Council (APPCO) represents the pulp and paper industry in the state of Alabama. Each of the 13 pulp and paper mills in Alabama are corporate members. There are four additional supporting members- companies that procure wood or have other, limited pulp and paperrelated interests in the state. APPCO was formed as part of the Alabama Forestry Association in 1990 from the Alabama Pulp & Paper Environmental Committee- the founders had no intention of creating a new organization. APPCO gives the industry the ability to focus on specific problems and opportunities and the device to communicate its own unique point of view. Council members are also members of the American Forest & Paper Association. This affiliation provides additional support and expertise on issues affecting the industry.
APPCO serves as a liaison to government agencies and the state legislature and acts as an information source for the media and general public.
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