COVINGTON, Ga. -  Join Georgia Piedmont Technical College (GPTC) and its partners for the official ribbon-cutting ceremony of the college's new, state-of-the-art Advanced Manufacturing Center, today - Wednesday, Oct. 25 at 4 p.m.  

The Advanced Manufacturing Center is located on GPTC’s Newton Campus, Building C, 16200 Alcovy Road Covington, GA 30014. The Advanced Manufacturing Lab will usher in the next generation of training for students who will work in the highly complex environments that drive manufacturing today.   Attendees will tour the facility's five specialty laboratories following the ceremony.

Commissioner Gretchen Corbin, Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG), Mr. Ralph Staffins, President/CEO of the Covington/Newton County Chamber of Commerce, and other corporate, elected and civic leaders will join Dr. Jabari Simama, President, Georgia Piedmont, for the opening ceremony. 

Since its founding in the early 1960’s, GPTC has provided courses and programs that have trained skilled technicians who have fueled the growing business and workforce requirements. “We have continued to adapt our educational and training courses as dictated by advances in technology,” stated Dr. Simama.  “Our graduates secure employment at a level resulting in a 99.5 percent total job placement rate,” he continued.

The Advanced Manufacturing Center is the next step following the college’s implementation of its High School German Apprenticeship Program.  GPTC, in partnership with Chambers of Commerce in Newton and Rockdale Counties, the Newton College & Career Academy, The Rockdale Career Academy and local industry representatives, providing classroom instruction, combined with fully-engaged apprenticeship experiences for students starting in the first years of high school. Light refreshments will be served.

Trade Five, launched by Governor Nathan Deal in 2012 as “Go Build Georgia,” is a statewide effort to encourage young Georgians to pursue jobs in five key sectors that require skilled technical training.  These sectors, which are experiencing workforce shortages as older workers retire, include:  Manufacturing, Construction, Telecommunications, Energy and Logistics.

Georgia high school graduates attending Georgia Piedmont Technical College are eligible to receive a $1,000 scholarship from a private foundation that supports the Trade Five program.

Additional information regarding Georgia Piedmont's Advanced Manufacturing Center may be found at:  https://gptcportal.wixsite.com/adv-manf-ctr