CHATTANOOGA, TN -- Chattanooga State Community College joined forces with Chattanooga 2.0 and partners from across Hamilton County this summer to offer a cohort of recent high school graduates the opportunity to start a welding career without taking on the cost of college. 

Through the collaborative program, 16 trainees from Chattanooga completed the Viable Pathway to Prosperity in Welding, co-built by Chattanooga 2.0 and Chattanooga State’s Office of Economic & Workforce Development. Each trainee completed 80 hours of hands-on welding training, which allowed them to test for and earn an American Welding Society Certified Welder (CW) certification. Students are prepared for direct entry into careers as welders with this nationally recognized credential. They also earned college credit toward a technical diploma from ChattState’s Welding Technology TCAT program. 

Additionally, students were provided more than 30 hours of professional soft skill development training on financial literacy, resume writing, conflict resolution, health and fitness, and creating a LinkedIn profile. 

Because taking time off from work is not always an option for people looking to increase their professional skills, the collective also offered each student a $250 weekly stipend to help offset food and transportation costs. Funding for the stipend was provided by Chattanooga 2.0. 

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Chattanooga’s percentage of total employment in both production and installation, maintenance, and repair industries outpaces the national average. The Chattanooga Chamber of Commerce reports the Hamilton County area looks to fill over 100 welding positions each year, on average. Students who completed the welding program have a future filled with opportunity. 

“This training was built to provide a clear and direct opportunity for economic mobility for underserved and underrepresented young adults in our community,” said Dr. Andrew Hudson, director of Viable Pathways to Prosperity at Chattanooga 2.0. "The idea was to be an accelerator for students who are not on a traditional college path to acquire quickly the skills and techniques to be employed and continue learning in the skilled trade of welding.” 

ChattState Regional Impact Director Dr. Patrick O’Hagan said the welding program reflects the College’s overall goal of ensuring the community has access to workforce training in settings that meet individuals’ needs. 

"This program is a testament to the college’s focal point of getting people career-ready and ensuring that they can truly Start Here, Go Anywhere,” Dr. O’Hagan said. “Whether it’s a short-term workforce training, a one-year TCAT diploma, or an associate degree program, we have so many on-ramp opportunities here at the college to strengthen our local workforce and ensure our students are equipped for a successful career.” 

This inaugural Viable Pathway to Prosperity in Welding cohort was made possible by a collaborative effort between ChattState, Chattanooga 2.0, Hamilton County Schools, Miller Industries, Astec, and the American Welding Society. Additional grant funding was provided by the Tennessee Valley Authority and the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.