Teens from Athens and Limestone County were among more than 100 North Alabama students who visited the Robotics Technology Park on Monday for hands-on opportunities to learn about careers in advanced manufacturing.

The event, which was conducted as part of career tech education month, gave students a chance to take part in interactive experiences and talk with employers about job opportunities that exist for those who have been properly trained.

“This is an opportunity for us to highlight what manufacturing careers look like in the modern era,” said Jeff Lynn, senior executive director of workforce and economic development for the Alabama Community College System. “With two years of education, our students can enter the workforce with no debt and make a good living to support themselves and their families. We want students in Alabama to know these opportunities exist.”

At a press conference afterward, state leaders said Alabama as a whole has a stake in students recognizing opportunities in today’s manufacturing jobs.

State Sen. Arthur Orr said the Robotics Technology Park is a key asset for Alabama, but only if people use it.

“It has become a jobs magnet, and that was always the vision,” Orr said. “ But it does no good if we have the jobs and the training facility if we don’t have the people and our young people are not interested and attracted to high-tech manufacturing.”

Blake McAnally, a member of the Alabama Community College System board of trustees, said a trained workforce is key to the state’s ultimate success in recruiting jobs.

“Dirt is dirt, and incentive is incentive, but people are what change the game,” McAnally said. “We in Alabama have got to get very serious and very excited about training our people to go to work in these high-tech industries.”

State Sen. Bill Holtzclaw said the event Monday gave students an opportunity to make the connection between the training opportunities that already exist and their own opportunities in the future.

“Where it pays off is when we have the next announcement in the state, and we have more jobs, and these children are going to be able to see that connection and be a part of the workforce,” Holtzclaw said. “And that’s what it’s all about.”

The Alabama Community College System recently entered a new partnership with AIDT to allow students across the state to use the Robotics Technology Park.

“The Alabama Robotic Technology Park plays a large role in maintaining the quality of Alabama’s workforce,” said Ed Castile, AIDT director and deputy secretary of commerce. “Partnering with the Community College System is key to building the skilled workforce that will move Alabama forward in the coming years. I’m very proud of the work we do here, and I’m looking forward to our continued partnership with the college system.”

— Information for this report was provided by Direct Communications, a Birmingham-based public relations group.