Drake State Community and Technical College, in partnership with Alabama public power utility Huntsville Utilities, recently announced the successful completion of an inaugural Underground Utilities Course.
“A three-week, intensive, hands-on workforce development program designed to connect local high school graduates with the certifications and real-world skills needed to enter the utilities trades,” Huntsville, Alabama-based Drake State said on June 11.
The program, developed jointly by Drake State’s Workforce Development team and Huntsville Utilities, offers participants industry-recognized certification in underground water and gas operations.
“For young people in our community, that credential is more than a piece of paper — it is a direct pathway to a living-wage career with long-term stability and growth potential,” Drake State said.
To mark the occasion, Drake State hosted “Dig the Line,” a live heavy equipment demonstration held in an outdoor classroom and back lot. Graduating students took to the field operating heavy equipment and demonstrating the technical skills they have built over three weeks of rigorous instruction.
The program resulted from a shared recognition between Drake State and Huntsville Utilities “that our region faces a growing shortage of skilled utilities workers, and that the time to act is now," Drake State said.
Huntsville Utilities Vice President of Employee Engagement Dr. Harry Hobbs, speaking on behalf of CEO and President Wes Kelly, said: “This is a great collaboration with Drake State, where we can set up an underground water and gas operations course to help folks that are interested in this type of work so they can get a level of certification. Hopefully in the future, if there’s some open jobs at Huntsville Utilities or other local utilities, they can be more competitive.”
“That is exactly what industry education partnership looks like at its best: a utility company investing in the next generation of its own workforce, and a college delivering the training that makes it possible,” Drake State said.
