November 15, 2022 (Chattanooga, TN) --- It is no secret that the cost of living has skyrocketed, often making the choice of affording higher education a difficult one. At Chattanooga State’s Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT), Automotive Technology students will now be able to breathe a bit easier because several local automotive groups stepped forward and successfully raised funds for toolkits in just two weeks’ time. The high-quality Snap-on toolkits were ordered using the educational discount rate at the college and the toolkits are expected to arrive just before classes begin in January.

“Chattanooga State’s Automotive Toolkit Initiative is removing a barrier to future students by fundamentally changing our automotive program for the better by opening up access to students who struggle to pay for a $3-5K+ toolkit that is required to be enrolled in the program,” stated Dr. Rebecca Ashford, Chattanooga State president.

Dr. Ashford thanked Brad Cobb, president of Bowers Automotive Group, for championing the Toolkit fundraising effort and added, “Because of his leadership and the generosity by him and six other donors, $81K has been raised from area automotive dealers to purchase 15 high-quality Snap-on Toolkits.” The seven key automotive partners involved in this initiative included Bowers Automotive Group, Mountain View Auto Group, Crown Automotive, Integrity Motors, Sonic Automotive, Acura of Chattanooga, and Lexus of Chattanooga/Capital Toyota.

Following brief remarks from County Mayor Weston Wamp, Dr. Jim Barrott, TCAT executive vice president, took a moment to recognize the leadership of Chattanooga State’s Automotive program Department Head Jimmy Jones, and the quick approval of the toolkit expenditure by members of the Chattanooga State Foundation Board of Directors and College Advancement team. “We see the toolkit initiative as a catalyst to replicate in other TCAT programs including Diesel Technology, Collision Repair Technology and Motorcycle/Marine Technology,” stated Dr. Barrott. “We thank you for blazing this trail to help future students of our automotive programs.”

For more information about Chattanooga State’s Automotive Technology program, call (423) 697-4433.

Automotive Toolkit Initiative partners from left: Dan Baird, Sonic Automotive; Austin Watson, Mountain View Auto Group; Brent Morgan, Integrity Automotive Group; Dr. Jim Barrott, Chattanooga State; Brad Cobb, Bowers Automotive Group; Dr. Rebecca Ashford, Chattanooga State; Mayor Weston Wamp; Ken Nichols, Crown Automotive Group; Ed Emerson, Capital Toyota/Lexus of Chattanooga. Missing from the photo is Bill Stout, Acura of Chattanooga.