Georgia Power Foundation supports Workforce Development at Augusta Tech’s Automotive Institute
"Investing in education and workforce development is essential for the continued growth and prosperity of our community, and we are proud to be a part of this transformative intitiative" (Bridges).
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For Immediate Release |
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Media Contact | Original Press Release Kimberly N. Holden |
Georgia Power Foundation supports Workforce
Development at Augusta Tech's Automotive Institute
Augusta, GA - March 17, 2025
Georgia Power Foundation has awarded $250,000 to support the Automotive Institute at Augusta Technical College. Once completed, this new training center will provide workforce training for more than 1,000 skilled technicians each year in the high-demand automotive and auto body fields.
“We are so pleased with the tremendous support Augusta Tech has always received from our partners at Georgia Power,” said Dr. Jermaine Whirl, president of Augusta Tech. “They have a strong commitment to empowering our community. This investment in the Automotive Institute will help ensure that our students will be able to access lucrative jobs, build sustainable careers to take care of their families and build stronger communities.”
At 65,000 square feet, the Automotive Institute will dwarf the College’s current 10,000-square-foot automotive training space.
“We are excited to support Augusta Technical College’s Automotive Institute, which will play a crucial role in developing the skilled workforce needed to meet the demands of the rapidly evolving automotive industry,” said Kerry Bridges, Region Executive at Georgia Power. “Investing in education and workforce development is essential for the continued growth and prosperity of our community, and we are proud to be a part of this transformative initiative.”
The Automotive Institute will be located at 1122 Walton Way, the former site of Johnson Cadillac. The facility will offer diploma and technical certificates of credit programs in automotive technology, covering combustion, electric, hybrid, and diesel engines. Additionally, it will introduce training in auto body and collision repair. Augusta Tech also plans to incorporate automotive industry-specific courses into its Associate of Applied Science degrees.
To support local businesses, the Institute will provide noncredit training and upskilling opportunities for the current workforce through the College’s Division of Economic Development.
In recognition of a $1 million gift from the Jim Hudson Automotive Group, the facility will be named the Jim Hudson Automotive Institute. The College has also received $1 million contributions from both Augusta National Golf Club and the Knox Foundation to acquire the facility. Several area dealerships and businesses have also made six-figure contributions.
Augusta Tech continues to engage with individuals and companies across the automotive industry—locally, statewide, and nationally—to raise additional funding for renovations and equipment. A full list of funding opportunities is available through the Augusta Tech Foundation at 706-771-4023 or foundation@augustatech.edu.
Augusta Technical College is a public institution dedicated to providing high-quality education and workforce training. With a strong emphasis on industry partnerships and hands-on learning, Augusta Tech prepares students for in-demand careers that drive economic growth in Georgia and beyond.
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About Augusta Technical College
Augusta Technical College, a unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, is a public postsecondary institution that provides academic and technical education, customized business and industry training, continuing education, student support, economic development, and adult education services to its service area (Burke, Columbia, Lincoln, McDuffie, and Richmond Counties) at a competitive financial value. Associate of Science Degrees, Associate of Applied Science Degrees, diplomas, and technical certificates of credit are provided through traditional and distance delivery methods. For more information, visit augustatech.edu.