TCAT JACKSON CELEBRATES RIBBON CUTTING AND OPEN HOUSE FOR GIVE GRANT TRAINING CENTER AT EARLY COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL
OCTOBER 7, 2021 - Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) at Jackson celebrated the ribbon cutting and open house of the Workforce Development Center at Early College High School on Friday, October 1, 2021. The Workforce Development Center (WDC) has been made possible by the Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education (GIVE) Grant program through the State of Tennessee.
This ribbon cutting ceremony and open house event featured speeches and presentations from Mitch Currey (Director of Workforce and Economic Development for Tennessee Higher Education Commission), Dr. Marlon King (Superintendent of Jackson-Madison County School System), Dr. Jeff Sisk (President of TCAT Jackson), Kyle Spurgeon (President/CEO of the Jackson Chamber). Additionally, attendees from the city were able to take a tour of the facility with current students, viewing displays and demonstrations in each area.
The WDC at Early College High School (located at Jackson Central-Merry) is meant to pave educational pathways for high school students to have dual college enrollment to earn certificates and gain hands-on training and attain associate degrees to bachelor degrees. The upgrades to the advanced manufacturing-related training programs, welding labs, and new equipment will help students as they transition to the workforce in West Tennessee.
The WDC at Early College High School includes the following programs:
GIVE Supported - Advanced Manufacturing - Welding
GIVE Supported - Advanced Manufacturing - Machining Technology
GIVE Supported - Advanced Manufacturing - Mechatronics
Health Science - Diagnostic Services
Health Science - Nursing Services
Health Science - Sport and Human Performance
Health Science - Therapeutic Services
For Interviews from the Ribbon Cutting Event:
https://youtu.be/QPjB5KyHWF4
For Photos from the Ribbon Cutting Event: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mnVDlrCHNhFNqJEeqMqcblqYznk3QY0n?usp=sharing
(Photo Credit: Alex Russell / Adelsberger Marketing)
About GIVE:
The Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education (GIVE) 2.0 is designed to foster long-term regional partnerships between Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCATs), community colleges, industry, economic development/workforce agencies, and K-12 to identify and address “skills gaps” in local workforce pools. The GIVE program facilitates the alignment of local workforce and education partners through a $25 million competitive grant process.
About TCAT:
The Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology serve as the premier suppliers of workforce development throughout the State of Tennessee. The Colleges fulfill their mission by: providing competency-based training through superior quality, traditional and distance learning instruction methods that qualify completers for employment and job advancement; contributing to the economic and community development of the communities served by training and retraining employed workers; ensuring that programs and services are economical and accessible to all residents of Tennessee; and, building relationships of trust with community, business, and industry leaders to supply highly skilled workers in areas of need. Learn more about TCAT Jackson at www.tcatjackson.edu.