Bevill State Community College (BSCC) has been awarded a $2.4 million grant from the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) to assist in the Alabama Energy Infrastructure Training Center expansion of the current HVAC Training Center in Jasper. This expansion will now include workforce training resulting in certification for the installation, testing, operation and maintenance of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure.
The grant is part of Governor Kay Ivey’s initiative to ensure Alabama is well-prepared for the increasing number of electric vehicles on the roads. The $11.2 million in total grants awarded will fund electric vehicle charging stations at key locations across the state, enhancing the EV infrastructure and ensuring drivers have access to reliable charging facilities.
Governor Ivey stated, “Having strategic electric vehicle charging stations across Alabama not only benefits EV drivers, but it also benefits those companies that produce electric vehicles, including many of them right here in Alabama, resulting in more high-paying jobs for Alabamians. This latest round of projects will provide added assurance that Alabamians and travelers to our state who choose electric vehicles can travel those highways and know a charging station is within a reliable distance on their routes.”
Dr. Joel Hagood, President of Bevill State Community College, commented on the grant award, “We are incredibly grateful to Governor Ivey and ADECA for this significant investment in Bevill State Community College. This grant will enable us to include crucial training for the installation and maintenance of EV charging stations as part of the Alabama Energy Infrastructure Training Center. This not only supports the growth of EV infrastructure in Alabama but also provides our students with valuable skills that will open up new career opportunities in a rapidly evolving industry.”
Greg Reed, President Pro Tempore of the Alabama Senate, also commended the initiative: “Providing resources that create opportunities for young people to follow their passions and grow their talents is incredibly important. Bevill State has done a remarkable job of creating these opportunities for students, and I am incredibly excited these new resources will be used to expand the HVAC Training Center to deliver localized and in-person electrical worker upskilling. This workforce development opportunity will help bolster our capacity to properly install and maintain our infrastructure, and I am incredibly thankful to Governor Ivey, ADECA Director Kenneth Boswell, and Dr. Joel Hagood for their work in securing these resources.”
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs is administering the grants, which were awarded through a competitive application process. The funding will support the installation of EV charging stations at various strategic locations, ensuring they are no farther than a mile from an interstate and available 24/7 year-round. This initiative is part of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Program, which has allocated about $79 million to Alabama over several years for the development of EV charging infrastructure. As a part of the funding, $788,921 will go to Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores to install two dual-port chargers its location at 83 Carl Cannon Blvd., near Interstate 22 in Jasper.
Other grants awarded and project locations are:
Falkville
- $768,782 to Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores to install two dual-port chargers at its location at 64 East Pike Road, off Interstate 65.
Gadsden
- $331,807 to Silver Comet Energy Inc. to install four chargers at the RaceTrac Store, 1715 W. Grand Ave., near Interstate 59.
Hamilton
- $656,166 to Love’s Travel Stop & Country Stores to install two dual-port chargers at its location at Marion County Highway 35, adjacent to Interstate 22.
Heflin
- $656,166 to Love’s Travel Stop & Country Stores to install two dual-port chargers at its location at 6647 Alabama Highway 46, adjacent to Interstate 20.
Tuscaloosa-Cottondale
- $581,200 to BP Products North America Inc. to install three electric charging stations at Travel Centers of America Tuscaloosa, 3501 Buttermilk Road, near Interstate 20/59.
Eutaw
- $783,299 to Love’s Travel Stops and Country Stores to install two dual-port chargers at its 7561 Mesopotamia Street location, adjacent to Interstate 20/59.
Clanton
- $660,909 to Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores to install two dual-port chargers at its store location at 300 Arby Drive, near Interstate 65.
Montgomery
- $581,200 to BP Products North America Inc. to install three chargers at Travel Centers of America Montgomery, 980 West South Blvd., adjacent to Interstate 65.
Fort Deposit
- $759,024 to Priester Retail Stores Inc. to install two dual-port chargers at it store, 80 Bishop Bottom Road, adjacent to Interstate 65.
Evergreen
- $867,238 to Love’s Travel Stops & Country Stores to install two dual-port chargers at its location, 16101 U.S. Highway 84, near Interstate 65.
Atmore
- $725,864 to Poarch Band of Creek Indians to install two duo-port chargers at Creek Travel Plaza, 4740 Jack Springs Road, near Interstate 65.
Irvington
- $639,564 to Love’s Travel Stop & Country Stores to install two dual-port charges at its location at 8400 County Farm Road, near Interstate 10.
Photo by Drive Electric Alabama
