The University of Alabama is grateful for the opportunity to serve Gadsden community and families through the Gadsden Center. Per an amended lease with the City of Gadsden, UA must vacate the center by May 31, 2025, forcing the closure of the Early Learning Initiative and after school program. The best interests of the children, families and staff are guiding the process to wind down operations. Students currently enrolled can remain through the end of the school year in May 2025 provided teaching levels do not decrease. The program is not accepting new applicants. The staff remain dedicated to providing high-quality learning for the children in the program.
The University of Alabama has been proud to offer an early learning program to Gadsden-area residents free of charge as part of its longstanding commitment to Gadsden and Etowah County. Funded by state grants, the Early Learning Initiative was not operated for a profit, but as a service provided by UA to the community.
The historical lease agreement with the City of Gadsden included substantial investments (about $1 million for rent and facility improvements) by the University into the Gadsden Center over the past 25 years. In partnership with UA, the City charged only a nominal rental fee for the space over the past 15 years; however, current city leadership recently informed the University that rent would increase significantly and then chose to sue to evict UA before a new lease agreement could be reached.
Instead of engaging in litigation that would be a costly use of state and city resources, the decision was made to prioritize current commitments to area families. UA negotiated an amended lease with the city that allows the Early Learning Initiative to remain open through the end of the 2024-2025 school year.
Despite the position of current city leadership, UA remains focused on many long-term programs and efforts that support the Gadsden community and Etowah County.
- This fall, 207 students from Etowah County are enrolled at UA and more than 600 students from the county have graduated from UA in the past decadeĀ
- UA Early College helps high school students who want to earn college credit, including 80 Etowah County students who enrolled in the last three years.Ā
- Municipal training was provided for 204 clerks, revenue officers and employees with financial responsibilities the last two years.Ā
- Continuing education and life-long learning was provided through non-degree certifications, conferences and training, and support for continuing education programming to 900 county residents the last two years.Ā
- Advising, training, and financing services served more than 250 small businesses over the past five years.Ā
- A strong alumni association in the area provides generous scholarships of more than $250,000 over the last decade to Etowah County students.Ā Ā
UA works to provide an accessible and affordable path to a premier educational experience for Alabama residents. The University intends to continue positively impacting the Gadsden area and looks forward to future collaborative opportunities.Ā
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