LeCroy Career Technical Center will mark the beginning of Career Tech Month with a proclamation signing, an unveiling of the center’s new robotics facility and an introduction of a newly formed council designed to advance Chilton County’s workforce.

On Thursday, Feb. 7, the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce will host a Business After Hours event from 4:30–6 p.m. at the center, where Probate Judge Bobby Martin will sign a proclamation declaring February as Career Tech Month in Alabama.

LeCroy Director Tommy Glasscock and colleagues will unveil the renovated facility and new home of the county robotics program.

The program, which was moved from Isabella High School to LeCroy in August 2012, will now be taught in what was formerly the center’s construction technology building.

“The whole purpose was to give that opportunity for all students in the county looking to get into engineering,” Glasscock said.

About 50 students are currently enrolled in the robotics program.

Central Alabama Electric Cooperative funded the computers and all other technological equipment installed in the facility.

Following the robotics facility tour will be the introduction of the Education Workforce Development Council, a group housed under the Chamber of Commerce that will work to help current and future members of the local workforce.

Council members will be Tommy Glasscock, chairman; Janice Hull, Chamber representative; Mike Robertson, Chamber executive director; and Lori Patterson, Board of Education president; and state Rep. Kurt Wallace.

“It will just be an opportunity for them to look at our workforce within the county and how we can better educate our workforce,” Glasscock said. “They will apply for grants. We’ve already received a $10,000 grant from CAEC.”

Glasscock said the council plans to look at how to improve the workforce training programs currently offered at LeCroy and to secure more state funding for them.

Council members will meet with local industries such as Johnson Controls Inc. to assess their needs and serve as liaisons between industry officials and potential employees.

“We help to determine what programs are needed,” Glasscock said. “It’s going to be a strong group and a working council.”

At the end of the month, students from 35 career tech programs in the county will be recognized at the Career Tech Extravaganza to be held at the Jefferson State Community College exhibition hall Feb. 28.

About $6,000–$7,000 in scholarships will be given to students whose names are drawn from those recognized at the event.

The scholarships can be used for college, internship programs or apprenticeship programs of the students’ choice.