January 11, 2021
Tallahassee Community College’s District Board of Trustees (DBOT) approved a $1.6 million construction contract today for a welding project at the Kim B. Williams Advanced Manufacturing Training Center (AMTC) on the main campus.
The Welding Technologies Laboratory (WTL) provides a state-of-the-art “hands-on lab” for students taking welding courses at AMTC. In 2019, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Dr. John Fleming awarded TCC a $1.2 million grant to support the effort. The project includes the renovation of nearly 6,000 square feet of shell space at the AMTC. More than 100 students have participated in the program since Fall 2015. The funding is expected to impact the College’s region of Leon, Gadsden, Wakulla counties and beyond.
The WTL will allow TCC to create a day-time Career and Technical Certificate (CTC) Welding Technology program, a night CTC Advanced Welding Technology program, and as needed, a stationary American Welding Society (AWS) certified assessment center for CTC students, employees and employers.
“Just as when the announcement was made about the funding, we continue to be very focused on meeting the workforce needs of our community and the surrounding areas at-large,” said Kimberly A. Moore, Vice President for Workforce Innovation and TCC2WORK. “We continue to be thankful for the Economic Development Administration’s investment in TCC and the laser-focused work that we have underway to meet the workforce needs for business and the training needs for those seeking to enter or move up in this high-demand, high-wage area.”
The action item brought to the DBOT was the approval of a $1,640,787.28 construction project with the Cook Brothers, Inc. The scheduled completion for the WTL is Aug. 13, 2021.
The U.S. Department of Labor lists Welding as an occupational area that has a “bright outlook” with a projection of 128,000 job openings through 2024. Statewide, there are an estimated 2,000 welding vacancies paying an average salary of $43,410. More than 50% of U.S. products require welding.
The Welding program is still accepting students for courses starting Jan. 25. Scholarship opportunities are still available for eligible students.
For more information, contact Kim Moore at (850) 201-8760 or mooreki@tcc.fl.edu.