Augusta Technical College receives $1M donation for new automotive technology facility

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WFXG) – An enormous donation for an enormous imaginative and prescient. Jim Hudson Automotive Group gave Augusta Technical School a $1M examine Wednesday. The school plans to make use of the funds to buy Johnson Motor Firm off of Walton Means and remodel it into the college’s new automotive expertise facility. 

The brand new facility will quadruple Augusta Technical School’s present coaching footprint to fulfill the rising demand for automotive technicians and professionals within the space. As soon as operational, the middle will provide 16 certification applications to roughly 1,270 college students yearly because the area’s main automotive coaching heart. Augusta Nationwide’s donation will enable the middle to open later this yr.

Augusta Technical School President Jermaine Whirl used three phrases to explain the event: progressive, relevance and well timed.

“At Augusta Tech, we’re not nearly doing the abnormal.” stated Whirl.

Augusta Tech is now at step nearer to a flagship location for in depth automotive coaching. Jim Hudson says this transfer is larger than the examine. Hudson says it is about rising the native workforce. 

“We want them worse than we want anyone else. It’s very tough for us to get good technicians that has the fervour and taught the appropriate manner.” stated Hudson.

Augusta Tech needs to develop college students’ expertise by a real-world expertise. For this, the plan is to create a simulated automobile dealership.

“Not solely do we want technicians, we want the very best of the very best, however we additionally wished to coach younger males and younger girls into service, gross sales, finance.” stated Whirl.

In accordance with Whirl, the Johnson Motor Firm acquisition permits development in a number of methods.

“Our present facility is barely about 10,000 sq. ft, so we’re going to have the ability to actually improve our capability, absorb extra college students and improve the workforce.” stated Whirl.

Some Augusta Tech college students say they’re already wanting ahead to it.

“Simply wanting on the distinction between like going and commuting versus going to Atlanta to right here, you get that comradery, you get that feeling of household, and to me, that helps me get my studying experiences alone.” stated Martia Moore.

“In the event that they incorporate physique store applications and an enormous diesel program, you would possibly see just a few of the identical faces round, so I might positively come again.” stated Andrew Chavez.

In the meantime…the college calls it the best alternative.

Whirl: “expertise is ever altering and we wish to be sure that we’re instructing the on the forefront expertise for our college students, and now could be the time.”