Tennessee Technology Center at McKenzie will be reaching many new students thanks to a $385,000 grant of stimulus funds through the Tennessee Department of Labor. These funds are coming from the WIA Area II office which will help retrain dislocated workers and youth eligible for summer training.

The first program offered will be Welding Technology program starting May 26 and can accommodate 20 students. This program will meet daily for one year from 2:30 p.m. till 8 p.m. This class will be available free of charge for those who qualify.

The second program will be a summer only five-week tile flooring instruction program starting June 15 and continuing through July 17. A total of 12 students can enroll and this program is for summer youth ages 18-24 and they will be paid an hourly rate to take the class if they qualify. Qualifications can be obtained through the student services office.

Early fall will see classes offered in Plumbing and Pipefitting which will begin in September. This program is for 20 students who are dislocated workers or adult WIA qualifiers. September will also see the new Green Electronics class which will be offered to 20 students. This new program will address Geothermal, Fiber Optics, Solar, and Wind energy alternatives.

"These new programs will be available free of charge and that will be important to local workers who have been laid off from their jobs. We picked new and emerging technologies as well as some more traditional programs that have good employment prospects," said Elizabeth Check, Director of the Tennessee Technology Center in McKenzie. For more information on these programs and other new offerings, contact Student Services office at 731-352-7506.

Pictured are (r) Director Elizabeth Check and welding instructor, Jimmy Kee.

• Notes From the High School
• TTC McKenzie Receives Stimulus Funds