New Job Kiosks Launched In Six Tuscaloosa County Schools

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The Tuscaloosa County Commission this week expanded its IGNITE Student Jobs program by installing kiosks in all six county high schools.

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This expansion was funded by District 3 Commissioner Mark Nelson with a $75,000 investment for the kiosks and a new STEM portal. This investment also comes after the County Commission’s previous $175,000 contribution to the program.

The IGNITE program was launched in May 2022 and created in response to students missing job opportunities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Commission is pleased to grow what has already been a successful partnership with West AlabamaWorks!” Tuscaloosa County Probate Judge Rob Robertson said. “This program has proved to be a tremendous success, and with this latest expansion, more students will have the opportunity to gain valuable work experience.”

Officials say the new STEM portal — IGNITE Uplink — is expected to launch next year.

“The IGNITE Student Employment Initiative is a community effort driven by business and education partners in West Alabama,” West AlabamaWorks! Executive Director Donny Jones said. “We encourage businesses to invest in the future workforce by providing students with employment opportunities. Together, we can help high school students explore future careers and ignite their full potential.”

Since its inception, the program has received over 5,100 applications from more than 1,800 students, along with local businesses and schools collaborating to host job fairs and other events to support the initiative.

“Utilizing District 3 [American Rescue Plan Act] funds, I am proud to further the County’s existing partnership with West AlabamaWorks!,” Nelson said. “In the two years since the launch, we have seen an incredible response from our students and local businesses. With this expansion, we hope the approximately 11,000 county high school students will take advantage of this unique opportunity.”

Click here for more information about the IGNITE program and available jobs.

Employers interested in hiring students ages 14 and up can find more details here.

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