News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
TCAT McMinnville received a $2,000,000 grant from the Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education Program to address skill gaps in Tennessee’s workforce.
Dual Enrollment Accreditation Coordinator Michele Chamberlain said the school will implement new programs at surrounding high schools and upgrade equipment for the programs on campus. TCAT McMinnville President Melody Edmonds said this is the largest grant the school has ever received.
“We know that with any type of extra funding and extra programming, we touch a lot more lives,” Edmonds said. “And we change a lot more lives and generations, and so we are very happy to be able to offer this opportunity to our community.”
Edmonds said they will also acquire a mobile trailer so trainers can visit multiple schools and introduce all the programs TCAT McMinnville has to offer. Edmonds said implementing more high school programs will create more interest in addressing the workforce needs of certain industries.
“Our employers have talked to us a lot about their concerns about the future and filling all of their positions they have,” Edmonds said. “Having the skilled workers and so that’s what we are really trying to address with this grant.”
Edmonds said it is essential to provide more opportunities for students in rural areas like McMinnville as they are not as aware of what is available as far as career paths.
“We are going to try with the mobile trailer and all the other things we are doing to create a lot of exposure,” Edmonds said. “Not just for high school but really we are reaching back to elementary and middle school, so we can begin that process early and give them a lot more breadth of knowledge so that they can make better decisions on their careers as they get older.”
Edmonds said the school will be purchasing upgraded equipment within the next two months. Edmonds said many programs at the high school level have already started and will be reimbursed once the contract is completed.
