Coast Guard's New Training Facility in Birmingham

0:00Local headlines in two minutes or less, you're tuned in to Birmingham News today. The Department of Homeland Security plans to open a new Coast Guard training facility in Birmingham, Alabama by the end of 2026. It will be built on the former Birmingham Southern College campus. This will be just the second such center in the country, with the first one already running in Cape May, New Jersey. That Cape May location has been around since 1948. It handles about 3,600 trainees every year, and employs roughly 500 full-time staff members. The town's year-round population sits at around 3,000 people. Leaders in Cape May say the Coast Guard has brought a huge economic boost, pumping about $148 million into the local. Economy, each year. Most of that comes from the steady jobs for staff, while trainees get a short time off to visit shops and explore the area. The community there has fully embraced the Coast Guard folks. Full-time staff make up nearly 80% of the local elementary school kids.

1:02They join parades, holiday events, and even host community days where the public can tour the base. Cape May's city manager advises Birmingham to welcome the new arrivals like family. He points out how they become a real part of daily life, from school activities to town celebrations, and expects the same positive vibe in, Alabama. This episode is brought to you by our sponsor. See the episode description. Head in, sound on, lights out. That is the routine, S-O-L-L-I-SOLYPELLOW.com