Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Northeast State delivered 133,285 hours of direct workforce training in 2022-23, ranking second among Tennessee community colleges.

Driven by a growing number of apprenticeship programs, about 80 percent of the College’s workforce hours were through the Northeast State’s Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing (RCAM). The apprenticeship programs enable students to learn while they earn as employees of sponsoring businesses.

Northeast State experienced a 77.15% increase in instructional hours over the 2021-22, climbing from 75,223 to 133,285.

Examples of training include carpentry, metal building construction, CNC machining, and mechatronics. Companies recently partnering with Northeast State include J.A. Street and Associates, Snap-on Tools, Silgan Closures, and Cardinal Glass FG.

“Our passionate staff and knowledgeable instructors teamed with leading educational resources/labs to create the world-class training that is RCAM,” said Cindy Necessary, Northeast’s industry training and credentialing coordinator. “Alongside our proactive industry partners, we are making a difference now and for future generations.”

RCAM is Northeast State’s primary workforce development facility. Through RCAM, The U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) approved Northeast State apprenticeship programs for companies of all sizes. Businesses benefit from training without managing an in-house program. Participants receive a DOL certificate upon completing the training.

“We at the Regional Center for Advanced Manufacturing attribute our success to cultivating strong relationships with our students and economic partners,” said Jo Starling, RCAM programs and services coordinator. “Our ongoing business develops from our regional reputation among our partners, alumni, and current students.”

The Tennessee Board of Regents Center for Workforce Development said the system’s community colleges delivered 1,089,573 workforce training hours – a 39.6 percent increase over the previous academic year – serving 41,638 students/employees and 835 businesses.