Separate contributions, one from the Augusta National Golf Club and the other from the Jim Hudson Automotive Group, are giving Augusta Tech’s automotive training programs a $2 million shot in the arm.
Augusta Tech President Jermaine Whirl said the center will be built in the Laney Walker Community.
“Since I’ve been president, we’ve been asked multiple times, would the college be interested in having a downtown presence? And the answer has always been yes,” he said, adding, “But it had to be the right, thing, had to make sense, we have to be able to financially make it happen. And so essentially, all the stars aligned, and we were presented a great opportunity.”
Currently, the college has six certification programs and one diploma program is automotive training disciplines. With the new center, that will increase to 16 certification programs.
“We’re going to be bringing on at least four new programs all related to auto body by itself, and collision repair. We’re also going to be getting into heavy diesel. We have a small, light diesel program that’s out in Burke County, but we’re space limited. We just introduced electrical vehicle repair. But again, our space limitations, we can’t really get into that advanced technology,” Whirl said.
The college also wants to expand into original equipment manufacturing training with companies including GM, Toyota and Honda/Acura.
Whirl said they have been meeting with about 20 local dealerships and fleet managers to refine the new programs that will be most beneficial.
Not all involve vehicle maintenance or repair.
“They said, ‘There’s no training for the front of the house,’ as they call it, said Whirl. “So, if you want to be a service manager, or parts department specialists, or if you want to run finance, if you want to be a professional salesperson, there’s no place to go to school for that. A lot of dealers are having to do that in-house, but they don’t have a lot of on job training. They’ve said, ‘If you all could create something, and they can go and actually learn how to be a service person and learn customer service and understand parts and how to do supply chains.’”
Whirl said they are also looking into more specialized fields.
“We even met with some boat companies. They can’t find folks that work at the marina, that work on small engines for boats,” he said. “Then we’ve also looked at motorsports, which would be a new program. So, for those who want to get in kind of that NASCAR track field, that’s a different type of engine, different type of technician skill set.”
In announcing its $1 million donation on April 6, Fred Ridley, Chairman of Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters Tournament, said it will help fund the development of a new automotive service training center.
“The launch of this training program will prepare a quality workforce for readily available jobs here in Augusta,” said Ridley in a news release. “This contribution reflects our commitment to promoting opportunities for residents and families in the Laney Walker community and across the City of Augusta.”
The $1 million from the Hudson group will also support development of the facility.
“This partnership with Augusta Technical College will allow young men and women the opportunity to be educated and trained in the automotive world,” said Jim Hudson, founder of the automotive group, in a news release. “Our company was built on three pillars: our employees, our customers and the community. My main objective with this donation is to strengthen our community and for us to see a lasting impact on the future.”
The donation was made to the Augusta Technical College Foundation.
“Together, we will be creating a better life for the students who learn here, and a better workforce for the employers who need these in-demand automotive skills,” said Foundation President Randy Hatcher, in a news release. “At the same time, we are reinvesting in a vital geographic part of our community that needs all of our help. We invite others to come along and be a part of this exciting, transformational story.”
Whirl said the hope is to have the center open by late this fall.
He added Augusta Tech, which just celebrated its 60th Anniversary, is preparing for the next 60 years.
“I hope people see we’re very serious about what we do, and we have a significant role to play. With our region growing as fast as it is, we have to ensure that we have the facilities and the training programs that keep up with the growth. So, we have undertaken major projects in a very short timeframe, but they will have enormous long-term benefits for the economic viability of this region for years to come,” he said.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a general assignment reporter for The Augusta Press. Reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
