Ingram State opens new workforce training facility in partnership with ABPP at Perry County PREP Center

JF Ingram State Technical College and the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles have opened a new Workforce Training Facility at the Perry County PREP Center, expanding hands on technical training for people preparing to enter the state’s workforce.

The facility, unveiled Wednesday, adds dedicated space for instruction in entry level welding, electrical work, carpentry and heavy equipment operation. Ingram State officials said the goal is to give participants practical experience that mirrors real job sites while helping them earn industry recognized credentials such as OSHA 10, NCCER, Alabama Career Essentials and forklift certifications.

“This facility represents what can happen when we stop looking at reentry as one moment and start looking at it as a process,” Ingram State President David Walters said. “Our goal is for someone to leave the PREP Center with more than hope that they can find a job. We want them to leave with skills, credentials, experience and the confidence to walk onto a job site knowing they are prepared to work.”

The PREP Center, which opened in April 2022, is a residential program that combines treatment and reentry services with education and workforce preparation for individuals transitioning from incarceration. According to the Alabama Bureau of Pardons and Paroles, the center has maintained a recidivism rate of less than 1 percent.

Officials said the new training facility strengthens the partnership between Ingram State and ABPP by connecting education directly to employment preparation. Students will be able to work with tools, complete projects and train in conditions similar to those found in construction and skilled trades.

“Public safety is our No. 1 priority, and preparing people to succeed when they return to their communities is an important part of that work,” ABPP Director Cam Ward said. “A good paying, skilled job can change the trajectory of someone’s life. This new facility strengthens our partnership with Ingram State and gives PREP participants even more opportunities to develop the skills and credentials they need to find meaningful employment and build a successful life after incarceration.”

Walters said the long-term goal is to see graduates build stable careers and contribute to their communities.

“We want to look five or 10 years down the road and see someone who has built a career, is supporting a family and is contributing to their community,” he said. “That is what success looks like, and it takes all of us working together to make that possible.”