Alabama Department of Commerce earns national honor for AIDT’s EV Technology Center

Business Facilities magazine has named the Alabama Department of Commerce to its 2025 class of “Economic Development Organizations of the Year,” highlighting the $30 million Electric Vehicle (EV) Technology Center currently under construction by AIDT, the state’s workforce development agency.

The EV Technology Center is a cornerstone of Alabama’s strategy to lead in electric vehicle manufacturing and advanced automotive innovation.

The center, under construction at the Alabama Robotics Technology Park in Decatur, is designed to equip Alabama’s workforce with the high-tech skills needed to support the transition to next-generation, sustainable vehicle production.

Construction began in October 2024, and the facility is on track to be completed by August.

“AIDT is proud to be on the leading edge of preparing Alabama’s workforce for what’s next in automotive manufacturing,” said Ed Castile, AIDT director and deputy secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “Through the EV Tech Center, we’re creating a pipeline of talent that’s ready for the electric vehicle era – built in Alabama, by Alabamians. And we’re doing it with input from the companies and institutions that are driving this transformation.”

The EV Tech Center is being developed in collaboration with a statewide EV Technology Committee composed of Alabama’s major automakers and suppliers, the University of Alabama, Auburn University, the Alabama Community College System and SAE International. SAE is also leading the development of key certifications to accompany the training.

Even before the building is finished, AIDT is piloting curriculum and company-specific EV training at Alabama’s automotive plants, ensuring no time is lost in meeting industry needs.

“We’re hitting every milestone,” Castile said. “We’ll be beta testing training at RTP well before the facility opens its doors.”

Now in its third year, Business Facilities’ EDO Awards celebrate innovative and impactful economic development initiatives. The 2025 program recognized efforts spanning workforce development, manufacturing, entrepreneurship and site readiness.

This story originally appeared on the Alabama Department of Commerce’s Made in Alabama website.