Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT-McMinnville) held a groundbreaking ceremony for the future home of its TCAT Coffee County Campus in Manchester. The new school will be located on Hwy 53 near Coffee County Middle School.
Site preparation and construction of the new 40,000-square-foot TCAT is set to begin soon, with the facility tentatively scheduled to open to students by Spring 2026. It will house 6 programs. The program offerings have been planned through data-driven analysis of workforce needs with the assistance of businesses and industries in the region.
At its start, this location will offer 6 programs: Cosmetology, Industrial Maintenance, Practical Nursing (LPN), Residential, Commercial, Industrial Electricity, Truck Driving, and Welding.
“This state-of-the-art building will help TCAT at Coffee County expand its role as a leading career technical education center for workforce development in our local community,” said President Dr. Melody Edmonds. “We’re excited to begin constructing this long-awaited facility, made possible by Governor Lee’s $1 billion investment in the TCAT Master Plan.”
This facility is funded by the generational $1 billion investment in the statewide TCAT Master Plan proposed by Gov. Bill Lee and approved by the Tennessee General Assembly – 29 major projects, including new TCAT extension campuses, new existing campuses, and other expansions and upgrades.
In his 2023 State of the State address, Gov. Lee said the TCAT Master Plan funding would be the “largest investment in our technical colleges in state history” and is needed to help prepare Tennessee for the future. “Our state’s economic success can also be measured by the number of jobs created – 170,000 new jobs in just four years. Now, our workforce pipeline must keep up.
“Pathways to success don’t look the same for every Tennessean, nor should they. For many, a certification from one of our Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology will open the right doors. Since 2019, we've prioritized TCAT construction across this state so more Tennesseans can kickstart a great career close to home. Today, nearly 9 out of 10 graduates get a job in the field they studied,” he said.
“As we recruit industry to Tennessee, one of the deciding factors is whether or not we have a trained workforce readily available and the educational system to retrain and upskill,” said Bradley Jackson, president and CEO of the Tennessee Chamber of Commerce and Industry. “It makes our job easy when we tell them our state has prioritized technical training through our community colleges and TCATs and can provide customized training if needed.”
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About TCAT Coffee County, The Tennessee College of Applied Technology Coffee County is at the forefront of technical education, offering diverse programs that equip students with the skills needed for today’s workforce. As part of the Tennessee Board of Regents system and accredited by the COE, TCAT Coffee County ensures a high-quality educational experience focused on student success and job placement. President Dr. Melody Edmonds leads TCAT Coffee County.
*** About TBR – The College System of Tennessee. The College System of Tennessee is the state’s largest public higher education system, with 13 community colleges, 24 colleges of applied technology, and the online TN eCampus serving approximately 120,000 students. The Tennessee Board of Regents governs the system.
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