Dr. George Graham, department head of chemical engineering technology at Chattanooga State 

Chattanooga, TN --- Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced today that Chattanooga State Community College is among a number of community colleges and universities around the country that will share in $500 million in grants for the development and expansion of innovative training programs. The share of the grant awarded to Chattanooga State is slightly more than $3 million.

The grants are part of the Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training Initiative, which promotes skills development and employment opportunities in fields such as advanced manufacturing, transportation and health care, as well as science, technology, engineering and math careers through partnerships between training providers and local employers. The U.S. Department of Labor is implementing and administering the program in coordination with the U.S. Department of Education.

Chattanooga State will use its share of the grant award to fund the new Tennessee Valley Institute of Materials Joining and Testing. The Institute will serve employer and employee needs by providing rapid retraining in two core, high-demand, high-wage fields: non-destructive evaluation and materials joining.

Dr. George Graham, Chattanooga State Engineering Technology Department Head, says, “Chattanooga region employers often outsource NDE and advanced welding work to out of state contractors. The funding from the TAACCCT grant will enable the Institute to provide the opportunity for education and training to the Chattanooga-area community in these high-paying fields. “  

The Tennessee DOL projects that three of the top five high growth industries through 2018 will be in manufacturing, adding a total of almost 4,300 jobs by 2018. According to Chattanooga State’s Tim McGhee, dean of the engineering technology division, “This is a great opportunity for the College to continue to serve our community, and the needs of our business and industry partners through the resources provided by this grant.”

The program\\'s career pathways will offer a range of options starting at entry-level certification that produces employability within four to six months, while also providing opportunities for stacked and latticed credentialing that could lead to advanced certifications, associate and/or baccalaureate degrees.

There are 297 schools designated to receive grants as individual applicants or as members of a consortium.  Chattanooga State will be awarded additional funds from the DOL as part of a Tennessee statewide consortium led by Roane State Community College in Harriman, TN. The statewide consortium was awarded a $12.5 million grant that will be shared among 13 community colleges and four Tennessee Technology Centers throughout the state.

For information about Chattanooga State Community College and its educational programs, call the Chattanooga State information hotline at (423) 697-4404 or toll free at (866) 547-3733. Information is available on the Chattanooga State website at www.chattanoogastate.edu, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ChattState, and on Twitter at https://twitter.com/ChattStateCC.