Andy Sher, Chattanooga Times Free Press—The Tennessee State Building Commission has approved Chattanooga State Community College's estimated $20 million project in Rhea County that would provide a new site for the community college's academic programs. The project is funded through Governor Bill Lee's $56.2 billion budget. Further approval was given to Chattanooga State to proceed with $10.2 million in improvements to its Tennessee College of Applied Technology academic building in Chattanooga and its automotive technology building. 

The Governor's budget recommendations included $945.9 million to fund all 29 major projects recommended by the state's Higher Education Commission for Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology campuses across the state. Additionally, $50.6 million in maintenance funding was approved for 15 projects at all 13 community colleges and 24 other improvements at 14 applied technology campuses. 

This comes as Chattanooga State plans to launch a new associate's degree in electric vehicle engineering, which will be initially offered through the existing Volkswagen Electric Vehicle apprenticeship program at the company's Chattanooga plant.

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