Groundbreaking for the new $20 million TCAT was held in Dayton

The groundbreaking for the $20 million Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Dayton was attended by numerous local and state officials.

Dr. Rebecca Ashford, president of Chattanooga State Community College, welcomed all guests to the groundbreaking, which was also attended by Chattanooga State citizens and employees.

She took the time to thank Jerry Hendrix, director of Dayton Site-Extended Services, for his work with Chattanooga State since 1998.

Dr. Ashford said this center will offer in-demand programs in welding, automation, robotics, industrial electrical, computer support technician and emergency medical technician (EMT) to help Rhea County residents improve their education. “This will allow us to expand workforce training and education opportunities for this community. I can’t thank our partners in the City of Dayton and Rhea County enough and their support in making this a reality. It’s an incredibly beautiful place,” Dr. Ashford said.

She further added that Chattanooga State Community College is unique in that it is the only community college in the state where TCAT and the college are one entity. “Students will have incredible opportunities ahead of them as they transition into high school and participate in our polytechnic academy. They will be able to continue their studies and complete their TCAT qualifications on one of the courses I have mentioned and then go on to earn a degree in these fields. Then the world will be open to them and they will be able to continue their education by earning a bachelor’s degree,” said Dr. Ashford. They can build a prosperous future with in-demand education in in-demand professions.

She said this won’t happen without transformation and leadership. She then introduced State Representative Ron Travis (R-Dayton), Dayton Mayor Hurley Marsh, Rhea County Executive Jim Vincent and Dr. Flora Tydings, Chancellor of the Tennessee Board of Regents. She added that their vision was crucial in making this breakthrough happen.

Dr Tidings told the audience: “We are very proud to be here today. We couldn’t have achieved this without your partnership.” She then praised Jerry Hendrix for laying the groundwork for this vision. She then thanked Gov. Bill Lee and the state legislature.

“Governor Lee asked about two years ago if we had a master plan for TCAT. I said yes and he told me to bring it to him, so I did. And as with most construction projects, we think we may get one or two designs. We hoped he would find something exciting in this plan. About three weeks before Christmas, I called the Governor’s Office and was told they would fund your entire master plan. $1 billion went to the Tennessee Board of Regents. This is unheard of. Once he put it in the budget, lawmakers had to approve it. We are pleased that Rep. Travis voted wholeheartedly for this bill. We needed their support, and they were with us every step of the way,” said Dr. Tidings. She added that this will result in about 10,000 more students joining the system across the state each year.

“When we add 10,000 students across the state, we change 10,000 families.” She concluded that she was looking forward to cutting the ribbon in 2026.

Rep. Travis said in his 12 years in the state legislature, this is one of the highlights of his career. “It is an honor to serve and give back, and I would appreciate it if I did not offer a special thank you to Governor Lee and the General Assembly, our local governments and all the people of the state of Chattanooga.”

“This will be the best thing that has happened to Rhea County in a while. When these kids come in and learn their craft, it will be amazing what it brings to the county,” said Rep. Travis.

Mayor Dayton Marsh said it was a long time coming. The city and county put in a lot of hard work and never looked back, he added.

“This is an important milestone for our city and will enable our students to access higher education without having to leave the city. This will contribute to the overall development of our city,” said Mayor Marsh. He added that the school’s impact will have a huge impact on the community.

Introducing Vincent, Rhea County Executive, Dr. Ashford said she had a “pretty good vision for this project” and was looking forward to seeing it come to fruition.

County Executive Vincent said, “When events like this happen, a lot of people don’t get recognized. I just want to say that this has been going on for three and a half years. The people of Rhea County stepped up and supported us wholeheartedly. Everyone, the City Council and the mayor, the Rhea County Commission, it was just amazing. When we implemented this a few years ago and started talking about it, I didn’t hear a single negative comment from any elected official or citizen in our community. That says a lot.”

County Executive Vincent then thanked Governor Lee. “It’s amazing that he has a heart for our children and their education and that he financed this for us. He told me years ago that he was interested in it.”

He then thanked the Board of Regents for making this possible.

County Executive Vincent said there will eventually be a multi-use sports field and possibly an amphitheater and convention center.

“There are three things that make a community healthy. The first thing is jobs and wages. Housing is extremely important. We are a bit weak in this respect, but we are gaining from it. A new wastewater treatment facility that Dayton is working on will help with this. Quality of life is second. We intend to direct this offer towards families and young people when it comes to football. Not everything is concreted yet. Much depends on financial resources. As we go through this, we will ask the community for feedback on this,” he concluded.

The city and county jointly purchased the property for $1.2 million after the state expressed interest in building a state vocational school on the site. Nearly 20 of the 90 acres will be used for the new school, and the remaining area will be used in the future to build football and other recreational facilities. Rhea County received $1,568,399 to create the Abel Sports Complex, which will be located on Delaware Avenue in Dayton behind Rhea Elementary School. The project is implemented in cooperation with the city of Dayton and the state of Tennessee. Kim Schofinski, deputy director of communications for the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation, made the announcement earlier. The cornerstone of the park is the TCAT school being built by the state on 20 acres of the Abel property. The sports complex will occupy the remaining 70 acres.