05082026 Jax State Challenger Center Ribbon Cutting — Ribbon cutting at the Challenger Learning Center of Northeast Alabama. (Jacksonville State University)

Less than two years after breaking ground, the new Challenger Learning Center of Northeast Alabama is officially open.

The facility is the first of its kind in the state. The goal is to engage learners of all ages in science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) while shaping tomorrow’s innovators and leaders through hands-on missions and discovery.

Dr. Farrah Hayes, executive director of the Challenger Learning Center of Northeast Alabama, described the opening as the realization of a long-held vision.

“Today has been years in the making, with people who started this long before I came along. The dedication here reflects the commitment of those who believed this day would come. Today, we open these doors, but more importantly, we open possibilities for every student who walks through them.”
Dr. Farrah Hayes, executive director of the Challenger Learning Center of Northeast Alabam

Keep reading to learn more about the facility + see more from the ribbon cutting celebration.

Challenger Learning Center of Northeast Alabama

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Friday marked the official launch of the new STEAM education hub which will provide hands-on exploration experiences for students across a 12-county region.

Alabama’s “state-of-the-art” facility was estimated to cost around $11 million with money already raised using state and federal funds. It will include three full size classrooms along with hands-on simulators representing:

Mission control
Space shuttle
Briefing room
Transport room

The new center will provide immersive, mission-based learning experiences designed to inspire students and equip them with critical skills in STEAM.

“What you are doing here today is creating the future that these young people will live in. It is leadership at the local level that makes opportunities like this possible.”
State Superintendent of Education Dr. Eric Mackey

The building is also in partnership with Jacksonville State University, housing the Jax State STEAM Institute. JSU will support the center with faculty expertise, student engagement and educational partnerships-helping extend its impact across Northeast Alabama for years to come.

This will be the first Challenger Learning Center in Alabama and the 37th center in the country. The organization is headquartered in Washington D.C.

Here’s what you need to know before visiting: