May 19, 2026
The City of Opelika officially launched its POW-R Workforce Initiative — short for Preparing Opelika’s Workforce Readiness — a strategic program led by Opelika Economic Development designed to align education, training, and employment with the needs of local businesses and industries.
Mayor Eddie Smith said at the announcement: “At its core, POW-R is about putting the power of opportunity into the hands of our people and our businesses. By investing in workforce readiness and talent development, we are ensuring that Opelika remains competitive, resilient, and positioned for long-term success.”
The initiative expands Opelika’s workforce team with two new hires: Grace Dickerson, Project Manager of Workforce Development, will build local talent pipelines through partnerships with Opelika City Schools, Lee County Schools, and Auburn University; and Madison Bush, Project Manager for Talent Attraction and Business Retention & Expansion (BR&E), who will focus on recruiting talent and supporting existing employers. The city will promote efforts under the #WorkforcePower campaign. Sector-specific strategies will target manufacturing, healthcare, education, retail, and hospitality.
Source: City of Opelika / opelika-al.gov, May 19, 2026
From the Opelika Weekly News Digest — May 18–24, 2026 | Compiled by Viktor AI for Opelika Daily News
