This unique statewide program is helping Alabamians land better-paying jobs

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The start of a new year often brings big questions: Am I in the right job? Is there something better out there? Is it too late to change paths? For many Alabamians, the answer might be closer (and faster) than they think.

Through the ACCS Innovation Center’s Skills for Success program, people across the state are gaining practical, in-demand skills that lead directly to new careers, higher pay and fresh starts. Here’s how it works.

What is Skills for Success?

The ACCS Innovation Center was created to connect Alabamians with fast, flexible training for in-demand jobs without the time or cost of traditional schooling. Through its Skills for Success program, participants can take short, free courses offered through their local Alabama community college.

These courses focus on the fundamentals of high-demand industries, including:

• Transportation, Distribution + Logistics
• Construction Trades
• Heavy Equipment Construction
• Healthcare
• Hospitality + Tourism

Each program is intentionally designed with input from local businesses and industries, ensuring participants learn industry-recognized skills employers are actively looking for. Many courses also offer direct connections to employers who are ready to hire.

Instead of spending years in school, learners can earn targeted certifications and step into well-paying, entry-level roles quickly—making Skills for Success an ideal option for anyone looking to kick off the new year with a new job.

A new career path

For Alabamians like Will Ellard, a 31-year-old from Cullman, the Skills for Success program came at exactly the right time.

Growing up on a farm, Will spent years doing manual labor from lawn care to construction. When he learned Skills for Success courses were being offered through Wallace State Community College, he jumped at the opportunity.

He enrolled in the ACE Program, an optional program offered through the Adult Education division, then completed specialized training in heavy equipment operation, including excavators, bulldozers and skid steers.

The program combined online coursework with hands-on training at Wallace State, where participants practiced equipment inspections, safety protocols and real-world tasks like digging and backfilling trenches.

“It helps you get a basic feeling for the controls and what you’ll be doing on the job, instead of just starting a job with a blank slate and learning as you go. That confidence makes a huge difference.”

Will Ellard, Graduate, Skills for Success

Interested in courses at Wallace State Community College? Email wfd@wallace.edu to learn more.

Certifications that lead to real jobs (and better pay!)

Not long after earning his certifications, Will started applying for jobs. When he listed his Skills for Success training on an application for a heavy equipment lane-clearing position, he got a call within days.

The impact was immediate. With more consistent hours and opportunities for overtime, he saw his income jump significantly—sometimes doubling or even tripling what he made before.

“Equipment operators are needed everywhere. Alabama’s workforce is growing fast, and there’s work all over the place. You just have to know where to look.”

Will Ellard, Graduate, Skills for Success

Through the ACE Program, Will also received a free class toward a degree, allowing him to finish a drafting program he started years earlier but never completed due to a required math course. This time, he passed.

Today, Will works as a drafter in an office, a role he once thought was out of reach.

Whether you’re looking to change careers, increase your income or simply start the new year with new momentum, Skills for Success offers a practical path forward, no matter your age or background.

Ready to take the next step in your career? Learn more about workforce training opportunities through the ACCS Innovation Center + find the right program for you at a community college near you.

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