The Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement (SAFE) announced major developments on Thursday afternoon, May 15, for the East Alabama Rural Innovation and Training Hub (EARTH), revealing multimillion-dollar investments and transformative partnerships during a press conference at the former Avondale Eva Jane site.
EARTH, a workforce development and innovation center, will be located on the grounds of the old Avondale Mills complex. The hub will serve as a one-stop shop for healthcare, transportation, early care, agriculture, technology, hospitality, manufacturing, and energy training.
Shipshape AgWorks, known for its modular hydroponic farms, will lead the development of a 10-acre vertical and regenerative farming operation behind the main EARTH building. The Birmingham-based company combines AI automation, renewable energy, and hydroponics to grow the equivalent of five acres of crops in just 500 square feet.
SAFE also announced collaborations with Auburn University, the University of South Alabama, Wake Forest, and the University of South Carolina to create environmentally sustainable watershed systems on-site.
Read more at Sylacauga News