Words by Jenny Lynn Davis | Images by Al Blanton
The Walker Area Community Foundation’s annual luncheon on Wednesday, August 27, brought major news for area schools. State Senator Matt Woods (R-Jasper) announced that the Heman Drummond Center of Innovation will receive an additional $8 million in state funding, bringing the state’s total investment in the project to $13 million.
“Never in the history of our county has a public school system received more capital investment from the state of Alabama for a singular project than what we can celebrate here today,” Woods said.
Woods emphasized the partnership between the Walker Area Community Foundation (WACF), the Drummond family, local schools, and legislative leaders in moving the project forward. “I believe this public-private partnership embodies what can be achieved when good people step forward to make a difference in their community,” he said.
Woods also told The Walker Leader, “I think it was very important for the state to come alongside the philanthropic investment of the Walker Area Community Foundation and the Drummond family to make sure that we are investing in the future of our workforce in a way that will have a lasting impact for many decades to come. I was thrilled to work with my colleagues in the delegation to secure $13 million in state appropriations to support this project. I believe it may be one of the most impactful investments in Walker County’s history, particularly in terms of education. I am excited about the future of the Heman Drummond Center. We’re just getting started, and I’m looking forward to continuing to support this project in any way I can.”
The Heman Drummond Center of Innovation, which was announced at the 2024 WACF Annual Luncheon and is set to open in 2026, will be a cutting-edge facility purposed to replace aging career tech spaces with a modern hub for training in high-demand industries, including IT, robotics, healthcare, automotive, construction, welding, and industrial maintenance. Students in Walker County and Jasper City Schools will gain valuable experience through industry certifications, dual enrollment courses, and work-based learning opportunities, such as internships and apprenticeships. The center is designed to create a lasting impact by equipping students with the skills necessary for future-ready careers, while strengthening the region’s workforce and economy.
This year’s luncheon also recognized the Walker Area Community Foundation’s 30th anniversary. Foundation President Paul Kennedy noted that since its founding, WACF has awarded nearly $60 million in grants and partnered with hundreds of nonprofits across the county.
“Helping people and organizations make an impact they never thought possible has been the mission from the very beginning,” Kennedy said.
Keynote speaker Greg Reed, Alabama’s first Secretary of Workforce and a Walker County native, highlighted the role of workforce development in the state’s economic future. Reed pointed to initiatives such as career pathways diplomas, dual enrollment programs, and youth apprenticeships as examples of how Alabama is preparing students for careers.
He also recognized the unique momentum in Walker County. “Walker County is the envy of every other place in Alabama in regards to workforce growth and the opportunity for us to provide world-class training and education,” Reed said.
WACF board member Eddie Jackson closed the program by crediting the vision and persistence of the foundation’s founders while encouraging attendees to continue supporting its mission.
“It’s one thing to want something or to desire something, but to accomplish that, you must have more than the want or the desire – you must have the will to carry it through. Thirty years ago, four men of this community conceived the idea of a community foundation. John T. Oliver, Jr., J. George Mitnick, Larry Drummond, and Pat Willingham each had a desire for a community foundation,” Jackson said. “They coupled that want with the will to see it through, and we owe them a debt of gratitude for that vision, because without them, we wouldn’t be here today.
“We will continue to grow because we will continue to show up and we will continue to put our hearts and our hands together, but most importantly, because we have the will to do this job.” WL
