TCAT — AT&T* has a long-standing commitment to the future of Tennessee, and through our new initiative — Believe TennesseeSM — the women and men of AT&T are working with community leaders and organizations to remove barriers to academic success and engage youth to have an impact in their communities.

As part of this effort, the company has donated $3,000 to the Tennessee College of Applied Technology in Elizabethton. The contribution will provide for the purchase of networking equipment which will help support training for high-skill jobs requiring technology-based skills throughout Tennessee.

This donation is part of the AT&T Foundation’s $150,000 gift to the Tennessee Board of Regents. Funding will provide 27 TCATs up to $3,000 each to purchase new networking setups used to teach infrastructure design, security and planning, and to practice implementing and protecting networks and operating plans. As a result, students will have expanded opportunities to learn the skills they need for careers in information technology fields. Additionally, funding will also provide support for student emergency funds across Tennessee’s 13 community colleges

“To meet the needs of our ever-growing economy, Tennessee’s higher education institutions must raise the bar for a new workforce to gain greater knowledge, skills and abilities to succeed in a modern workplace,” said State Senator Jon Lundberg. “Through programs like those offered at the Elizabethton College of Applied Technology, pathways are created for non-traditional students to gain these skills.”

“Technology is creating new jobs and new jobs require new skills. Through this partnership with AT&T and TCAT-Elizabethton, I am confident our graduates will have the necessary skills today’s employers demand,” said State Representative John Holsclaw.

Tennessee’s information technology and technical needs are growing at an exponential rate, creating increased demand for well-trained IT personnel that are crucial to the economic development of Tennessee businesses and industries.

“At AT&T we are focused on developing a 21st century workforce that can promote continued prosperity and a stronger economy across Tennessee,” said AT&T Tennessee Regional Director of External and Legislative Affairs Alan Hill. “We are excited to continue our support for TCAT Elizabethton to help more students gain the high-demand skills necessary to compete for quality job opportunities and to empower more students to reach their highest potential.”

The main campuses of the 27 Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology are in: Athens, Chattanooga, Covington, Crossville, Crump, Dickson, Elizabethton, Harriman, Hartsville, Hohenwald, Jacksboro, Jackson, Knoxville, Livingston, McKenzie, McMinnville, Memphis, Morristown, Murfreesboro, Nashville, Newbern, Huntsville, Paris, Pulaski, Ripley, Shelbyville and Whiteville

The Believe Tennessee effort is an extension of AT&T Believes, a larger companywide initiative, which aims to create positive change in local communities. To learn more about AT&T Believes initiatives across the country, please go to https://about.att.com/pages/believes.