Working Together For Better Jobs in Prattville, AL

Brett Pritchard

Though communities across the U.S. prioritize economic and workforce development, a collaborative approach is being used to focus on high quality jobs in Prattville, AL – and at the helm is the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce. 

Collaborating on Jobs in Prattville and Autauga County

In January 2020, the chamber launched the Prattville Area Industry Council to help serve local industry needs and assist with job fairs and hiring employees. After the pandemic hit, however, the council was put on hold for about a year, starting back with virtual meetings and eventually moving to face to face. 

“It took some time to get back to in-person meetings, but when we did, we discovered that what the chamber needed to do was be a connector for our industries,” says Patty VanderWal, the chamber’s president. “We expanded our meetings to include our partners, such as our city and county municipalities; our community college, Central Alabama Community College (CACC); our school system’s career and technical school, Autauga County Technology Center; [Central AlabamaWorks!]; and our state workforce partners.” 

Each council partner brings its own set of knowledge and concerns to the table, and together, they work to address issues facing local industries. 

Central Alabama Works

Developing Career Pathways 

One example of an issue is preparing students for jobs in Prattville and Autauga County. 

Enter the Alabama Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (AL FAME) Program. The industry council supports AL FAME, which partners students with industry professionals while they take classes at select community colleges. This allows students to gain experience with manufacturing leaders while working toward their associate degree. 

“The [AL] FAME Program and the work we are doing with shared resources is helping bridge a gap in the maintenance field,” says Stephen Hyer, plant manager for plastic supplier Inteplast Engineered Films and a member of the council. 

Additionally, Prattville/Autauga County’s academic and nonprofit institutions offer workforce training programs that ensure new and expanding businesses have the skilled workers they need. 

The Autauga County Technology Center offers a curriculum designed to prepare students for work or for further study. Its courses combine school-based learning with career-related experiences. 

CACC, an open-access, public community college that promotes student success in classroom and career learning environments, focuses on academic, technical, dual-enrollment and adult education. It also advances the region’s quality of life through economic, community and workforce development. 

Central AlabamaWorks! is a nonprofit organization that includes leaders from education, chambers, economic development groups, nonprofits, and government agencies. It fosters industry partnerships. 

“We use all three in training people,” Hyer says of the center, CACC and Central AlabamaWorks! “We continually look for ways to support and have them support our mission.” 

Attracting Businesses to Prattville and Autauga County

Central Alabama Electric Cooperative (CAEC) helps lead the county’s workforce and economic development efforts. It is active in the Prattville Area Industry Council and is a capital investor in Central AlabamaWorks! 

“We pride ourselves on being a huge partner,” says Connie Bainbridge, CAEC’s manager of community and economic development. “It’s a regional effort.” 

CAEC’s core business is providing electricity and fiber services, but the co-op sees job creation as an important part of its mission. “We believe good jobs help our employees’ families have a better life,” Bainbridge says. 

She adds that the availability of a job-ready workforce is a major incentive for businesses. 

The Prattville Area Industry Council has shown that the old saying is true: A rising tide really does lift all boats. 

“What we have accomplished is that we have brought everyone to the table to hear our industries’ needs, and we have connected all of these partners to come together to serve our industries in our community,” VanderWal says. 

Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce

Focusing on the Future

The Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce has been serving the community for more than 50 years, and in that time, the chamber has faced its fair share of successes and challenges, including the effects of the pandemic. 

“Maneuvering through the COVID times caused discomfort for most of the area businesses we serve, but it also caused difficult times for the chamber as well,” says Patty VanderWal, chamber president. “Now in 2024, the chamber has gone through some staff changes and how we do programs, along with what we now offer our members and the community.” 

Today, the new and improved chamber is run by VanderWal as well as Bob Gipson, membership director; Brooke Glover, marketing and communications director; Kim Neese, administrative assistant; and Nelda Sorrells, chamber assistant. 

“Each of our staffers has qualities they bring to the chamber that really benefit us and will hopefully elevate us to the next level,” VanderWal says. 

In addition to staffing changes, the chamber has a new focus – taking its services up a notch. 

VanderWal shares that she and her team recently attended a retreat to plan new programs and tweak their established ones, including the chamber’s sponsorship of the Prattville Area Young Professionals and its backing of the community’s annual Prattville CityFest. 

“The chamber is now concentrating on different programs in seven work areas where we want to have much success,” she says. “Those concentrations are in membership growth, tourism, small business, military, governmental affairs, education, and economic and workforce development.” 

– Kevin Litwin contributed to this article.