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KNOXVILLE (December 5th, 2024) – Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Knoxville held a groundbreaking ceremony December 5, 2024, for the future home of its main campus. Site preparation and construction of the new three‐story, 105,000‐square‐foot building is set to begin soon with the facility tentatively scheduled to open to students by the third quarter of 2026. It will house many of the college’s program and offer the opportunity for new programs offerings that have been planned through data‐driven analysis of workforce needs with assistance of business and industry in the region.
“This state‐of‐the‐art building will help TCAT Knoxville expand its role as a leading career technical education center for workforce development in our local community,” said President Chaney. “We’re excited to begin construction of this long‐awaited facility which was made possible by Governor Lee’s $1 billion investment in the TCAT Master Plan.”
The upgrade is funded by the generational $1 billion investment in the statewide TCAT Master Plan proposed by Gov. Bill Lee and approved by the Tennessee General Assembly – 29 major projects that include new TCAT extension campuses, new buildings on existing campuses, and other expansions and upgrades.
In his 2023 State of the State address, Gov. Lee said the TCAT Master Plan funding would be the “largest investment in our technical colleges in state history” and is needed to help prepare Tennessee for the future. “Our state’s economic success can also be measured by the number of jobs created – 170,000 new jobs in just four years. Now, our workforce pipeline must keep up.
“Pathways to success don’t look the same for every Tennessean, nor should they. For many, a certification from one of our Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology will open the right doors. Since 2019, we've prioritized TCAT construction across this state, so more Tennesseans can kickstart a great career close to home. Today, nearly 9 out of 10 graduates get a job in the field they studied,” he said.
Upon completion, the college will be ready to accept students into its current offered programs and new programs which may be added in the future to meet industry needs. Plans also call for classrooms, laboratories, multipurpose spaces, staff offices, and on‐site parking.
“As we recruit industry to Tennessee, one of the deciding factors is whether or not we have a trained workforce readily available and the educational system to retrain and upskill,” said Bradley Jackson, president and CEO of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “It makes our job easy when we tell them our state has prioritized technical training through our community colleges and TCATs and can provide customized training if needed.”
Participating in the groundbreaking were Flora Tydings, Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor; Glenn Jacobs, Knox County Mayor; Becky Duncan Massey, District 6 Senator; Richard Briggs, District 7 Senator; Jerome Moon, District 8 Representative; and Danni Varlan, TBR Regent. Many attendees’ local colleges and TCATS, business and industry partners, and those that make the construction of the building possible were also present.
TCAT Knoxville, part of the College System of Tennessee and governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents, offers career and technical education programs including transportation trade programs, allied health programs, and a diverse array of skilled trades. A complete list of program offerings is posted on the college’s website at www.tcatknoxville.edu/programs.
Photo caption: On hand for TCAT Knoxville’s groundbreaking ceremony held December 5th for its new Main Campus building were (from left) Nick Gill, Richard Briggs, Glenn Jacobs, Noah Duncan, Becky Duncan Massey, Danni Varlan, Kelli Chaney, Flora Tydings, Jerome Moon, Lynn Rimmer, Sally Porter, Misty West, Andrew Smith, and Scott Mull.
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About TCAT Knoxville
The Tennessee College of Applied Technology Knoxville is at the forefront of technical education, offering a diverse range of programs that equip students with the skills needed for today’s workforce. As part of the Tennessee Board of Regents system and accredited by the COE, TCAT Knoxville ensures a high‐quality educational experience focused on student success and job placement. TCAT Knoxville is led by President Kelli Chaney.
About TBR – The College System of Tennessee
The College System of Tennessee is the state’s largest public higher education system, with 13 community colleges, 24 colleges of applied technology and the online TN eCampus serving approximately 120,000 students. The system is governed by the Tennessee Board of Regents.