Manufacturing Magnet: How Chattanooga is Fueling the Future Workforce
Manufacturing strengthens the economy and creates well-paying jobs across Greater Chattanooga, where a growing number of initiatives match companies with high school and college students looking for career opportunities.
Businesses, secondary schools and Chattanooga State Community College are collaborating on manufacturing-focused apprenticeships and other programs that combine real-world experience with classroom work.
These educational initiatives help fill the talent pipeline that manufacturers need while preparing students for success, whether they choose to go to college or enter the workforce immediately after high school.
In This Article
Apprenticeship Programs: Building Skills, Securing Futures
Students can take advantage of Chattanooga State’s apprenticeship programs, Dalton Public Schools’ Project Purpose, Hamilton County Schools’ Future Ready Institutes and Bradley County Schools’ Partnerships in Industry and Education (PIE) Innovation Center.
“We’re unlocking the potential of the future employee during the learning process,” says Bo Drake, vice president of economic and workforce development at Chattanooga State.
Chattanooga State’s apprentices are adult learners — with an average age of 28 — who attend the college while working as full-time, permanent employees at companies like Komatsu and Valmont Industries. They often already work at the company and are looking to advance their careers.
The PIE Innovation Center: A Collaborative Approach
Even before college, professional development starts in high school in Greater Chattanooga.
Bradley County’s PIE Innovation Center brings high school students and employers together under one roof in a 273,000-square-foot space that previously sat vacant. Participating businesses and nonprofits operate from spaces inside the PIE Innovation Center while offering work-based learning experiences to students.
The Smart Factory Institute, managed by Peak Performance Inc., is one of the facilities located there. It provides manufacturers with connections, collaborative relationships and certifications for improving manufacturing processes.
In 2024, PIE’s first full year, 230 students participated in the program. However, the center will eventually have room for up to 1,000 students, including those from other nearby counties, once the program continues to expand outside of Cleveland. Transportation is provided for current students from their schools.
After graduation, the work-based learning opportunities often lead to permanent employment.
“We looked at our community, brought everyone to the table to see what would meet their needs and developed a pipeline of skilled workers,” says Brittany Cannon, director of the PIE Innovation Center. “The goal is to provide that college and employment piece — almost like a highway with different exits — that allows students to go directly to employment or postsecondary school.”
Career Paths with Purpose
In Greater Dalton, Project Purpose is a nine-day boot camp for high school graduates who are interested in careers with leading manufacturers.
Five of those days are filled with training on soft skills, professional development, quality control, workplace safety, and financial literacy. Thanks to a TVA Workforce Invest Grant, the program will also offer a certification course through Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) in 2024.
“We assist the students in writing a resume and work on interviewing techniques with them. These courses are led by local professionals within industry, Dalton State College and GNTC,” says Ali Harp, project manager for the Dalton-Whitfield County Joint Development Authority.
After experiencing different work environments and shopping for interview attire, students from Partnerships in Industry and Education Innovation Center interview with companies looking to hire them full-time.
“We end the week with students accepting or not accepting full-time job offers and host a signing day celebration with the students, their families, the companies and local community supporters,” Harp says.
Future-Ready Workforce
Students participating in the Future Ready Institutes (FRIs) in Hamilton County are getting a firsthand look at various industries, including manufacturing.
As a part of the institutes, students take classes through high school. Then, by senior year, most will have an internship with a partnering business.
Chattanooga was the site of the world’s first Coca-Cola Bottling Company, which is still in operation over 100 years later. Today, the Coca-Cola Business Institute is located in Hixson High School.
“We are elated to have Coca-Cola as our branded partner. They have provided opportunities for our students that they couldn’t have gained inside the walls of our classrooms,” says Jill Moses, FRI lead teacher at Hixson High School.
FRIs promise bright futures, helping students connect with companies that have a history of providing sought-after careers in the region.
“We recognized students in Hamilton County may not see us as an option coming out of high school if they didn’t choose the college route,” says Darren Hodges, division manager at Coca-Cola. “Partnering with Hamilton County Schools will allow students who are going to college to get a head start by seeing how businesses operate and how we approach marketing at an operational level.”
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