Wiregrass Georgia Technical College celebrated a topping-off ceremony for the new Commercial Truck Driving and Diesel Technology Facility. The new facility is a public and private partnership that began seventeen years ago with the land that was donated to the college by the Douglas-Coffee County Development Authority to offer 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 designed to accommodate both programs.
At the ceremony, guests were able to sign a beam that will later be placed within the building structure. During the ceremony, 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 topping-off ceremony included: Wyndall Walters, Chairman of Wiregrass Foundation North; John Hayes, Co-Owner/Corporate Sales Manager at Lasseter Tractor Company; and Representative Clay Pirkle, Georgia State House of Representatives. Giving the benediction was Charles White, Field Representative for Congressman Austin Scott. 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. The new facility will be completed by the end of this year.
Both the CDL and Diesel Truck Maintenance programs are accepting new students for the Fall Semester and are eligible programs for the HOPE Career Grant.