News & Announcements

The CREATE Innovation and Technological Center, located in the former Honeywell building at 1 Cliff Garrett Drive, celebrated its official grand opening on Monday, November 19, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by more than 300 guests.

CREATE, which stands for Choccolocco Research, Education, and Technical Experience, is a workforce development program affording students the opportunity to gain skills that allow them to enter the workforce upon graduation or pursue 2-year or 4-year degrees in their chosen fields.

Currently serving Oxford High School students along with adults seeking career opportunities, the program will expand to serve 16 high schools across five regional counties next year.

“We are so very fortunate to have local, state, and national leaders who support Alabama youth to ensure their future is bright in our state,” said Oxford City Schools Superintendent Dr. Shannon Stanley. “This is the realization of a vision of a unique and next-level learning experience for our high school students that is directly connected with the businesses and industries that make up economic development in East Alabama.”

CREATE Director Lorie Denton noted the speed with which the program had been put into place.

“We closed on this building March 4, and five months later we opened the doors to 300 students from Oxford High School,” Denton said. “Thanks to an amazing team of workers, we did it.”

Gov. Kay Ivey headlined the number of dignitaries who spoke during the special occasion.

“Today, we are cutting the ribbon on something truly special for Oxford and the entire northeast Alabama region,” Ivey said. “This program is not just about putting people into jobs; it’s about building greater futures for our families and the whole state of Alabama.”

Mayor Alton Craft, who, along with the city council, has been supportive of regional cooperation opportunities, expressed the city’s pride in the project.

“I knew we were on to something when I first heard the idea,” Craft said as he thanked the stakeholders, along with Gov. Ivey, for helping make the center into a reality in such a short period of time.

Video salutes were also offered by U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville and Alabama State Superintendent Eric Mackay.

Speakers included U.S. Rep. Mike Rogers; state Sen. Keith Kelley; Col. Craig Daniel, commander, Anniston Army Depot; Melissa Battles, office of U.S. Sen. Katie Britt; Marie Manning, District 6 representative, state Board of Education; and Phil Webb, chairman, Alabama Workforce Board.