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- calendar_today October 25, 2026
Be Pro Be Proud Tour Stops in Montgomery
The Be Pro Be Proud initiative marked its 10th Anniversary Tour with a stop at the Alabama National Fair on Monday, giving local students and families an interactive experience of skilled trades and technical careers. On the fair's closing day, the event paired hands-on activities with a tribute for First Responders Day, highlighting the demand for skilled workers in the area.
Hands-On Learning with Virtual Reality Simulators
Visitors had the opportunity to climb aboard the Be Pro Be Proud tractor-trailer, which is equipped with virtual reality simulators and interactive stations. These stations allowed participants to try out tasks relating to welding, heating, ventilation and air conditioning, electrical work, heavy equipment operation, and advanced manufacturing. Even those with no previous experience could simulate running a welding bead and then learn about possible career and educational pathways in these high-demand trades.
Involving Families in Workforce Conversations
Executive director Andrew Parker emphasized the impact of involving both students and their parents in discussions about skilled trades. "Putting students and their parents in front of the same career at the same time changes the conversation at the dinner table," Parker said. He also noted that support from Meta enables the organization to showcase high-wage, high-demand technical careers as solid first-choice options.
First Responders Day Salutes Local Heroes
The fair’s closing day also coincided with First Responders Day, which offered free admission to firefighters, law enforcement officers, EMS personnel, dispatchers, and their immediate families. The Meta Montgomery Data Center provided support for both the Be Pro Be Proud workshop and the special recognition for first responders.
"Nearly every family in this part of Alabama comes through our gates in October," said Randy Stephenson, executive director of the Alabama National Fair. He highlighted the importance of the event as a community tradition while thanking Be Pro Be Proud and Meta for their partnership.
Meta’s Role and Community Investment
The Meta Montgomery Data Center, announced in 2024, has contributed significantly to the region with over 1,000 skilled trade workers at peak construction and a total investment of more than $1.5 billion in Alabama's capital. Henry Thornton, Meta's community engagement manager, affirmed the organization's commitment to youth career exploration, the skilled trades workforce, and first responders, expressing pride in partnering with initiatives such as Be Pro Be Proud.
Expanding Access to Trade Career Training
The Montgomery stop was one of ten on the Be Pro Be Proud tour, supported by a $500,000 Meta investment. Since its partnership began in 2023, the initiative has reached nearly 70,000 students in communities surrounding Meta data centers.
Founded in Arkansas by the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce/Associated Industries of Arkansas in 2016, Be Pro Be Proud is a nonprofit workforce development initiative. The program partners with state agencies, local industry, and higher education to connect students to high-tech, high-paying trade careers and reverse the decline in technical workforce participation. The initiative now operates in Alabama and several other states.
Source: alreporter.com.
