U.S. Department of Agriculture today announced a $60,000 grant award to Wiregrass Georgia Technical College (WGTC) that will help meet the demand for highly trained industrial systems technology professionals. Funding comes from the Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) program which is designed to support targeted technical assistance, training and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas. Funding is contingent upon the recipient meeting the terms of the grant agreement.
“Technical education provides a cutting edge advantage in today’s competitive job market,” said USDA Rural Development State Director Quinton Robinson. “This funding will help equip Industrial Systems professionals with skills in pneumatics and hydraulics that are in high demand.”
Industrial Systems Technology professionals specialize in maintenance of technical equipment used in a variety of work environments. For example, most of us have used a pneumatic tube system at the bank drive thru to complete transactions. They involve a complex system of valves, compressors and vacuums to pass the container (called a tube) of financial documents from the driver of a car to the bank teller inside the building. Pneumatics and hydraulics are widely used in factory automation for sorting and handling, as well as for food processing. Businesses rely on technically skilled professionals to maintain and repair pneumatic and hydraulic equipment, further; they rely on technical colleges to train those professionals.
WGTC will use the $60,000 RBDG to purchase a pneumatic and hydraulic trainer that allows students hands on experience using actual systems simulating automated manufacturing. Students will progress in their skills from being able to identify the components that make up pneumatic and fluid power systems to being able to troubleshoot and repair these systems.
With the primary mission of workforce development, WGTC hopes to graduate enough skilled technicians to fill the growing demand by employers. There are approximately twenty-five students currently enrolled in the Industrial Systems program and related programs.
The Rural Business Development Grant (RBDG) is a competitive grant designed to support targeted technical assistance, training and other activities leading to the development or expansion of small and emerging private businesses in rural areas that have fewer than 50 employees and less than $1 million in gross revenues. A list of Georgia FY2015 RBDG awardees is posted online at http://www.rd.usda.gov/files/ga_fy15RBDGlist.pdf . For program information, contact Business and Cooperatives Programs Specialist Toni Grimes at (706) 552-2561.
President Obama’s plan for rural America has brought about historic investment and resulted in stronger rural communities. Under the President’s leadership, these investments in housing, community facilities, businesses and infrastructure have empowered rural America to continue leading the way – strengthening America’s economy, small towns and rural communities.