Wiregrass Georgia Technical College celebrated the groundbreaking for the new Commercial Truck Driving and Diesel Technology Facility. The new facility is a public and private partnership that began fifteen years ago with the land that was donated to the college by the Douglas-Coffee County Development Authority with the purpose of offering Commercial Truck Driving classes. In 2017, because of industry demand, Wiregrass began the Diesel Truck Maintenance program using a spare bay for the lab and a breakroom for a classroom provided by Transpower of Douglas. The 5,000-square-foot facility will house classrooms and labs specifically designed to accommodate both programs.
Wiregrass President DeAnnia Clements shared, “This new facility will allow us to better serve our students and our partner industries in these two high-demand programs.” Speakers at the groundbreaking included: Terrance Mack, a 2021 CDL graduate; Stuart Smith, Chairman of the Douglas – Coffee County Economic Development Authority: Representatives Dominic LaRiccia and Clay Pirkle. President Clements thanked local supporters of this project; Williams Foods, American Truck Parts, Walmart Transportation, RW Griffin, Transpower, the Fred Taylor Company, Lasseter Equipment, Walmart Distribution, Chip Dorminy, Pope Trucking, Tom Smith, Prince Automotive, Wyndall Walters, and the Coffee Community Foundation Economic Development Fund endowed by Francis and Diane Lott. “Because of the generous support this project received locally and the important role these skills play in the local and statewide workforce, this project received the support of the state legislator and the governor,” shared Clements.
Both the CDL and Diesel Truck Maintenance programs are accepting new students for Fall Semester and are eligible programs for the HOPE Career Grant.