USDA Rural Development Acting State Director Harriet Cannon today joined Tennessee College of Applied Technology at Newbern Director Donna Hastings to announce funding used to purchase training equipment for the Industrial Maintenance program.
“At RD, we emphasize the importance of supporting rural economic development by providing funds for technical assistance, training and other job-creation activities,” Cannon said. “Thus, the purchase of this new equipment will provide enhanced training and expand the skills of TCAT Newbern graduates who are looking for jobs sought by local plants and businesses.”
TCAT – Newbern received a $40,000 Rural Business Development Grant to purchase a mechanical trainer and a robot which are needed to meet the high skills required by industry for maintenance technicians. The purchase of the equipment and training provided will result in a highly-skilled workforce to enhance manufacturing job retention and recruitment in West Tennessee.
Tennessee is fast becoming an automotive manufacturing state. Having a workforce trained using state-of-the-art equipment will prove to those companies that Tennessee is serious about meeting their industrial maintenance needs.
These funds are made possible through a partnership with Delta Regional Authority (DRA) where DRA makes strategic investments in change-making programs for rural communities through the Rural Communities Advancement Program (RCAP). This funding is directed to communities and counties with a population of 50,000 or less.
Others participating in the event include Congressman David Kustoff Field Representative Ivy Rogers, Dyer County Mayor Chris Young, Newbern Mayor Justin Wright, Dyersburg Mayor John Holden, Lake County Mayor Denny Johnson, TCAT Newbern representatives, Director Donna Hastings, Assistant Director Donnie Walton, Instructor Pete Hudson, Northwest Tennessee Development District Director John Bucy and Rural Development Union City Area Director Joel Howard.
USDA Rural Development is moving investments to rural America with housing, business and infrastructure loans and grants to create jobs and strengthen rural economies with an emphasis to assist areas of persistent poverty.
For more information on USDA Rural Development programs available in Northwest Tennessee contact the Union City Area Office at 731.885.6480 x 4. Visit us online at www.rd.usda.gov/TN.