Liberty County Development Authority pledges $100,000 for precision manufacturing training expansion
HINESVILLE – The Liberty County Development Authority (LCDA) voted to support the expansion of workforce development training for Precision Manufacturing in Liberty County with a five-year, $100,000 pledge to support Savannah Technical College in building and equipping a state-of-the-art Precision Manufacturing Flex Tech lab at its Liberty Campus.
This new construction would nearly double the lab space currently available for industrial-related instruction and will be customized to support the specific industries that operate in the region.
“We are proud that the Liberty County Development Authority has made such a strong commitment to expanding precision manufacturing training,” says College President Dr. Kathy Love. “We know that our manufacturing partners require a highly-skilled workforce in order to continue to thrive. We have recently expanded Welding, Machine Tool and Industrial Systems to Liberty County, but the demand for manufacturing education exceeds capacity at every campus location. This Precision Manufacturing flex tech lab expansion will help the College’s programs and equipment keep pace with the demand in Liberty County.”
Manufacturing is making a major comeback in southeast Georgia. Statistics show that regionally, more than 200 manufacturers have a total annual payroll of nearly $700 million and employ more than 14,000 workers, making this sector of the local economy critically important to economic development and quality of life.
Industrial employment in Liberty County has increased 461 percent since 1981, with more than 2,000 manufacturing jobs created. Manufacturing products include advanced materials, consumer goods and concrete and wood products.
Four Liberty County industries, Alcoa Forgings and Extrusions, Elan Technology, Interstate Resources and SNF Holding Co., have created the Liberty County Manufacturing Collaboration, a consortium that works closely with Savannah Technical College and the Liberty College and Career Academy to tailor workforce development programs to meet employer requirements. The Liberty County Manufacturing Collaboration in August will enter its second year of a paid apprenticeship program in partnership with Savannah Technical College.
“We are pleased to see Savannah Technical College expand its footprint in Liberty County and enhance manufacturing training to suit the skills required by our local industries,” says LCDA Board Chairman Allen Brown. “Supporting the college’s programs in Hinesville is vital to ensuring our existing industries are equipped to grow, which increases career opportunities and economic vitality within our community.”
The Liberty County Development Authority’s mission is to develop and promote industry for the public good and welfare of the county. Toward that end, the LCDA has developed industrial parks, constructed shell buildings, and supported Savannah Technical College and workforce development programs such as the Liberty College & Career Academy.
The Savannah Technical College Foundation is in the midst of a $10 Million capital campaign, with $5 Million devoted to Precision Manufacturing throughout the region. The College seeks to expand manufacturing at its Effingham and Savannah campuses as well. The campaign will significantly expand access to workforce development opportunities and provide students with access to training in a practice-oriented environment sufficient to become knowledgeable and job-ready. Industries will have access to a highly skilled workforce to meet the increasingly complex needs in advanced production allowing them to compete successfully and expand their operations – creating more jobs in the community.
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#1606 | August 3, 2015
LCDA Media Contact: Danielle Besser
912.368.3443 | danielle.besser@lcda.com
STC Media Contact: Amy Shaffer, APR
912.443.5512 | ashaffer@savannahtech.edu
A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, Savannah Technical College (Savannah Tech) is the premier provider of career-ready technical education in Coastal Georgia, offering a comprehensive range of nearly 150 market-driven programs, preparing students for high-demand careers including Aviation Technology, Cybersecurity, Health Sciences, Logistics & Supply Chain Management, Automation & Robotics, Information Technology, Culinary Arts, Public Services and more. With campuses in Chatham, Effingham, and Liberty Counties, Savannah Tech serves more than 13,000 credit and non-credit students with a variety of pathways to success, including dual enrollment programs for high school students and specialized support services for military veterans and their families. Beyond academics, Savannah Tech is an economic and community development partner, collaborating with industry leaders to provide customized training programs, assessment services, and continuing education opportunities. For more information, visit www.savannahtech.edu.
Savannah Technical College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees, diplomas and technical certificates of credit. Questions about the accreditation of Savannah Technical College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Savannah Technical College complies with the Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG). The TCSG State Board prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual’s age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status (“protected status”). No individual shall be excluded from participation in, denied the benefits of, or otherwise subjected to unlawful discrimination, harassment, or retaliation under, any TCSG program or activity because of the individual’s protected status; nor shall any individual be given preferential treatment because of the individual’s protected status, except the preferential treatment may be given on the basis of veteran status when appropriate under federal or state law.
