PELL CITY, Ala. – The latest chapter in the ongoing partnership between Alabama Industrial Development and Training and Honda Manufacturing of Alabama was on display Tuesday, as a new AIDT training facility officially opened its doors in Pell City. This new facility extends the relationship between HMA and AIDT, Alabama’s training program created for industrial development. The facility simulates the moving paint line at Honda’s plant in

Lincoln. HMA and AIDT joined forces to design the new facility, which features specialization of the paint process for Honda Odyssey minivans and Honda Pilot SUV’s. Associates working on the HMA plant’s paint line will receive extended training at the new Pell City facility.

Representatives of both HMA and AIDT said they hope the new facility, a result of HMA’s growth and AIDT’s involvement with Alabama’s expanding automotive industry, will continue to enhance Alabama’s workforce management system. “AIDT had a direct impact on our Alabama operations,” said Rick Schostek, HMA senior vice president of business operations. “We see this new facility as another opportunity to advance the capabilities of Alabama’s workforce.”

AIDT has been a major provider of workforce recruitment and training for Alabama’s new and expanding companies. Consistently, AIDT has received recognition for excellence in its field. That excellence was rewarded most recently when AIDT emerged as the top-ranked U.S. state training program in the 2004 Expansion Management Site Consultant Survey. As well, auditors recently recommended AIDT for ISO 9001:2000 certification.

“AIDT has provided job-specific training in both pre-employment and post-employment settings since 1971,” said AIDT Director Ed Castile. “Recent and intense growth of the state’s automotive industry has helped us develop new training programs and develop internal operations. Experience with growing and changing industries keeps AIDT services consistently effective to meet changing industrial needs.”

Workforce management services provided by AIDT include recruitment, assessment and training of potential employees, development and production of job-related training materials, provision of training facilities, and, delivery of job-specific services. AIDT also provides management and supervisory training programs, including ISO 9000 training support, and services featuring supervisory and team leadership skills.

HMA currently employs more than 4,400 associates in the production of Odyssey minivans, Honda Pilot sport utility vehicles and the V-6 engines that power both vehicles. HMA’s investment totals more than $1.2 billion in

Lincoln, which includes two assembly lines totaling 3.1million square feet. HMA has the production capacity to build 300,000 vehicles and engines each year. A $70 million expansion at HMA’s machining facility will be completed in 2006 and will add another 100 jobs at the facility.