Southeast AlabamaWorks has announced that it will be ceasing all operations come September 30, 2025.
One of seven regional workforce councils in the state, Southeast AlabamaWorks is tasked with implementing strategies developed by the Alabama Workforce Council. Specifically, the organization focuses on serving local businesses and industries by fostering a skilled and educated workforce.
In an official press release on Tuesday, Southeast AlabamaWorks explained that it will be dissolving as a result of decreased state funding brought about by the Alabama Workforce Transformation Act.
“After more than a decade of dedicated service to the communities and workforce of Region 6, Southeast AlabamaWorks announces that it will formally dissolve and cease all operations effective September 30, 2025,” the release states.
“This difficult decision comes in response to the removal of core state funding, which has made it unsustainable to continue the organization’s work at its current scale,” it continues. “Despite extensive efforts to secure alternative funding and partnerships, Southeast AlabamaWorks has determined that it cannot maintain operations beyond the current program year.”
According to the organization’s executive director, Katie Thomas, Southeast AlabamaWorks is now the fourth regional workforce council to dissolve as a result of this reallocation of state funding. Just days ago, on June 30, the Southwest Alabama Workforce Development Council (SAWDC AlabamaWorks) ceased operations following a February announcement that it would be closing due to the provisions of the Alabama Workforce Transformation Act.
“This decision is a direct result of the Alabama Workforce Transformation Act, when it passed in March 2024 and restructured workforce development across the state, it also ended the funding of the Regional Workforce Councils, which acted as non-profit organizations. Thus, a loss of core funding led us to make this difficult decision. We are the fourth Regional Workforce Council to dissolve in Alabama,” Thomas told APR in a written statement Tuesday.
While Southeast AlabamaWorks’ various programs and initiatives will be coming to an end this year, the organization touted the work it has done to aid the region’s workforce and industries over the past decade.
“Since its founding, Southeast AlabamaWorks has been a vital link between education, industry, and workforce development partners across its 10-county region. The organization has proudly led initiatives such as Southeast WOW (Worlds of Work), the Alabama STEM Externship Program, industry partnership councils, and hands-on career exploration programs, helping thousands of individuals find meaningful career paths and supporting employers in building a stronger local talent pipeline,” the organization stated.
Thomas echoed the organization’s bittersweet sentiment in her own official statement.
“We are incredibly proud of the impact Southeast AlabamaWorks has made in this region,” Thomas stated. “While we are deeply saddened to bring this chapter to a close, we remain grateful to all of our partners, employers, educators, and community leaders who helped shape the success of this organization over the years.”
Tuesday’s press release goes on to state that Southeast AlabamaWorks will focus on “responsibly closing out its programs, supporting staff transitions, and ensuring a smooth conclusion of services” between now and September 30. The organization also announced that it is looking for a successor to take over its Southeast WOW (Worlds of Work) program which allows students to explore career opportunities through hands-on demonstrations with professionals from a wide variety of industries.
As Southeast AlabamaWorks and other regional work councils close their doors across the state, Thomas told APR that “the future of workforce development in Alabama remains unclear at a local level.”
“Where the Regional Workforce Councils are shutting down there will be gaps in service delivery and availability of programs without local Department of Workforce employees to fill those voids. As of today, we have received no updates about local Department of Workforce staffing plans,” Thomas stated.
“This is a sad turn of events for local workforce development initiatives, but a smart move for reorganizing the state’s efforts to support continuity in their messaging and program delivery across all Regions of Alabama,” she added.
