TMI works closely with the eight community and junior colleges in the WAEM Region.  Alabama Southern Community College, Bevill State Community College, East Central Community College, East Mississippi Community College, Jones County Junior College, Meridian Community College, Shelton State Community College, and Wallace Community College – Selma are fully committed to upbuilding the region. The alliance of these colleges provides strong support for initiatives throughout the region.

Ongoing

Current funding is provided by the Walmart Foundation. Initial funding was provided by a WIRED grant from the U.S. Department of Labor.

To provide a regional training framework, credential, and resource development opportunities for the West Alabama – East Mississippi Region.

In late 2005, eight community and junior colleges in West Alabama and East Mississippi joined together with the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) and The Montgomery Institute (TMI) to compete for a U.S. Department of Labor Workforce Innovation in Regional Economic Development (WIRED) grant.  Endorsed by Alabama Governor Bob Riley and Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, the region’s application was accepted and a $15 million, three-year grant was awarded in February 2006.  The grant provided for the creation of an innovative, regional workforce education and training system to address key skill needs in the region.

The grant also called for interaction among the eight colleges to build the region’s identity, craft regional strategies, and support regional initiatives.  The “WAEM Alliance” was created to provide the platform for the eight colleges and TMI not only to accomplish the goals of the WIRED grant, but also to sustain the regional workforce system and related regional initiatives beyond the grant period. Each participating college and The Montgomery Institute (Charter Allies) adopted a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) authorizing participation in the WAEM Alliance (see below).

Initiatives managed by the Alliance are (1) regional credentialing through the “modern multi-skill manufacturing” M3 Credential based on authentic assessment of technical skills and (2) the Amatrol Anytime Anywhere e-Learning System that allows workers and students online access to virtual training modules.

Other areas of interest for the Alliance include alignment and integration of credit and non-credit career and technical training programs pertaining to regional initiatives; financing the Alliance and regional activities; coordination and integration with Alabama and Mississippi workforce investment plans, workforce systems, and state agencies; and other functions to be determined.

The Walmart Foundation America Works Initiative and U.S. Department of Labor health care grant are initiatives made possible by the work of the WAEM Alliance.

WAEM Alliance By-Laws

WAEM Alliance Memorandum Of Agreement