b'BUSINESS: MOVING FORWARD TOGETHERECONOMIC GROWTH GETS BOOST WITHWorkforce Development CenterBy Mitch Moore future growth if not addressedPellissippi State to expand its soonthe lack of workers whoElectrical and Electromechanical To say that the footprint of busi- are adequately trained and quali- Engineering Technology, Com-ness and industry in Blount Countyfied to fill all those new jobs. puter Information Technology and has grown in the past decadeTo that end, Pellissippi StateCulinary Arts associate degree and would be an understatement. InCommunity Colleges new Ruthcertification programs, and nearly a fact, exploded might be theand Steve West Workforce Devel- third of the space will be utilized by more appropriate description foropment Center is being createdthe Knoxville-based Tennessee Col-the fact that the county has seento make sure local employers havelege of Applied Technology (TCAT). some $2.8 billion in capital invest- a deep well of human resourcesThat institution will offer trade ment and the addition of someto draw from in meeting theirprograms like machine tooling, 6,000 new jobs just since 2011. ever-increasing hiring needs. Withpipefitting and international mobile Factors like a prime geographican expected completion date oftelecommunications.location and the proactive effortsFebruary 2022, the workforceWell be sharing these resourc-of local governments, businessesdevelopment center is a $16.5es in a way that gives us the best and agencies to attract and keepmillion project that will result in achance possible of meeting those new investment have contrib- 51,000-square-foot facility locatedworkforce needs, says Pellissippi uted to the spike. But all partieson Pellissippi States Blount CountyState President L. Anthony Wise involved recognize one potentialCampus. Jr. Theres never been a project of speed bump that could slow downThe building will allowthis magnitude attempted before 6 Basically Blount 2021'