Chattanooga Times Free Press, Jennifer McNally—The city of Chattanooga comes together to train the next generation of the workforce in advanced manufacturing. Advanced Manufacturing is becoming a "career of choice" for many people as manufacturing moves to automation. For its part, Chattanooga State offers a variety of learning tracks and "on-ramps," including short-term certifications (three to six weeks), technical diplomas (one year or less), and associate degrees with transfer pathways (two years). Many certifications and diplomas lead to associate degrees, as well as transfer pathways to a bachelor's degree, including courses offered through the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga (UTC).

The completion of the Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology (TCAT) Advanced Manufacturing Center in 2024 will allow ChattState to grow programs like Industrial Electricity, Industrial Maintenance, and Mechatronics. They'll also launch a new program on Industrial Automation.