Gov. Lee encourages students at Jackson State and TCAT, says they're on right career path
As part of his state-wide tour of Career and Technical Education programs, Gov. Bill Lee toured Jackson State Community College and Jackson's Tennessee College of Applied Technology on Tuesday afternoon.
Lee's visit of TCAT Jackson and JSCC's Advanced Maintenance Technician (AMT) Co-Op facilities comes as his first public appearance since his 2024 State of the State address on Monday evening when he consequently gave a shout-out to TCAT Jackson alumni Derrick Montague.
"His training at TCAT Jackson quickly led to a quality job at Teknor Apex, an auto supplier that chose to expand in Tennessee just a few years ago," Lee said in his address. "That TCAT and that job are both available because of the work we have done together to invest in the advancement of rural communities."
As part of Lee's $56.2 billion budget for 2024, nearly $1 billion was allocated for capital improvements to existing TCAT facilities in addition to funding for six new campuses.
During his time at JSCC, he explained that it's "inspiring" to tour the state's various CTE programs that are the result of a concerted focus made five years ago when he took office to invest in technical training programs.
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Meeting the demand
With many new industries like 6K Energy and Ford's Blue Oval City coming to not only West Tennessee but across the state as well, Lee says he is committed to developing the workforce necessary to meet the employment demands.
"Jackson is in a part of the country that is rare in that there is so much economic activity here with thousands and thousands of jobs being created," Lee said.
"If we can get folks skilled up to take those jobs, it's life-changing for them, and it continues economic prosperity in our state that changes lives for others."
When asked how on track the state is to accommodate the employment demands of its new industry partners, Lee says that a "rapidly escalating" number of CTE programs, like AMT at Jackson State, are helping meet the need.
"I think we're doing a great job of it here in Tennessee, and I think the evidence of that is the continuing decision of companies to make investment here," he said. "If we can go before them with infrastructure and workforce, they'll come behind with opportunity for Tennessee."
Following his tour of the AMT facilities, Lee ventured to TCAT Jackson's Tool and Die program where he urged students to persevere with a career in their respective fields.
"We need you in this state to fill the jobs that are being created in this state," he said to them.
Preparing for employment
Students enrolled in Jackson State's AMT program will earn an Associate of Applied Science in Engineering Systems Technology through hands-on training split between classroom time and on-site experience with industry partners.
Upon acceptance to the AMT program, students are interviewed before a panel of local industry partners, like Toyota Boshoku, who select students whom they want to enter a co-op with.
Rylan Coffman is a soon-to-be graduate of the AMT program and has been co-oped with Toyota Boshoku, a component of the automotive industry specializing in interior systems and filter manufacturing.
When he graduates in May, Coffman is eligible to advance from his co-op with Toyota Boshoku to a full-time position if he so chooses.
"It's been a really cool opportunity, I've really been thankful for it, and I've learned tons of stuff there from working, to robotics, to POCs, to even just your everyday communication and talking," Coffman said.
In response to Lee's encouragement that students like Coffman are needed as the state continues to develop its workforce, he added that it solidifies that he's on the right path.
"It's definitely an eye opener and makes you feel really good that I've chosen this profession to pursue," he said.
"We can see here in Jackson and really everywhere in the world that manufacturing is exploding and it's a really good career to get into."
This article originally appeared on Jackson Sun: TCAT Jackson, Jackson State Community College host Gov. Bill Lee
