McWane President Will McWane and executive leaders joined Junior Achievement of Alabama to cut the ribbon on the McWane Economic Education Center in Birmingham on Thursday, June 11.
The $18 million center provides 30,000 square feet of hands-on learning experience space where students can run businesses, manage budgets, pay bills and explore interesting career paths in an immersive environment designed to simulate a real city. Will, who serves on the organization’s board, and his wife Kaitlin, along with the McWane Foundation, were lead supporters of the Center.
The center will serve more than 20,000 middle and high school students across central Alabama with two primary programs, JA BizTown and JA Finance Park. Each program offers unique experiences for students to learn teamwork, leadership and problem-solving skills. Amerex, a McWane company, also supported the center as a founding partner and is represented as a storefront in the JA BizTown where students can learn more about different career paths.
“The JA mission has always been about equipping young people for life. Financial literacy and economic knowledge are so important to our students’ future,” Will said. “What makes this Center extraordinary is the immersion. It puts students in the driver’s seat. These are lessons they will carry with them forever.”