Atlanta Mayor, Atlanta Technical College launch job readiness pilot program at Center for Workforce Innovation | The Atlanta Voice

Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms speaks to the media at Atlanta Technical College, Thursday, Aug. 15. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen / The Atlanta Voice)

On Thursday, Aug. 15, Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms and Atlanta Technical College President Victoria Seals officially launched a 200-student pilot program for the campus’s new The Center for Workforce Innovation. Through the program, Atlanta Tech students will receive jobs training focused on outcomes-based education for high-demand careers.

The Center for Workforce Innovation, which is housed at Atlanta Technical College, was established in November 2018 through a public-private partnership with the City of Atlanta, Atlanta Committee for Progress and Atlanta Technical College.

“Atlanta Technical College and the communities we serve depend on innovative partnerships to ensure we are providing our students with every opportunity to succeed in high-demand career fields,” said Dr. Victoria Seals, president of Atlanta Technical College. “We are honored to partner with (Bottoms) and some of Georgia’s most successful corporations to empower our students with the knowledge and training required to be successful in Atlanta’s competitive workforce.”

An initial $2 million investment from partnering corporations—Delta Air Lines, The Home Depot, SunTrust, Intercontinental Exchange, and Georgia Power, with additional support from McKinsey & Co. and other Atlanta-based institutions—will support three career tracks: aircraft technical skills, information technology (IT), and skilled trades like carpentry and electrical construction.

The funding will also support a tuition balance forgiveness program and transportation vouchers for students, while WorkSource Atlanta, the city’s workforce development agency, will offer tuition assistance of up to $10,000 to students who qualify.

“Atlanta is internationally recognized for its dual focus on commerce and compassion,” Bottoms said. “Our business and civic leaders have a longstanding history of working together to strengthen communities. As we now partner Atlanta’s leading corporations with one of the nation’s best technical college systems, Atlanta residents gain a newfound opportunity to acquire the skills needed to earn higher wages and better provide for themselves and their families.”

“This is what Ambassador Andrew Young often describes as the Atlanta way, where we come together with our public entities, our private entities, our community groups and we make it happen,” she added. “We talk about ‘equity’ this morning, and ‘equity’ is a great buzzword and a lot of people are still working to figure out what equity means. And essentially, it’s making sure that people have the tools and the opportunity to succeed. That’s why I’m so grateful to Atlanta Tech. They work tirelessly to make sure that all of our communities who are represented have an opportunity to succeed.”

Dr. Victoria Seals, president at Atlanta Technical College, speaks Thursday, Aug. 15. (Photo: Itoro N. Umontuen / The Atlanta Voice)

In addition, WorkSource Atlanta, the City of Atlanta’s workforce development agency, will provide tuition assistance of up to $10,000 to qualified students, and all students will be eligible for additional dollars through the HOPE Career Grant. Year Up Atlanta and career tech-program Per Scholas will also partner to ensure that students obtain meaningful outcomes.

“The Center for Workforce Innovation has the potential to transform workforce opportunity in Atlanta, by engaging the most reputable companies to develop a talent pipeline for key sectors,” said Larry Gellerstedt, Chairman of the Atlanta Committee for Progress, and chairman/CEO of Cousins Properties. “This effort will advance economic mobility by offering life-changing career paths while enabling generational impact by providing Atlanta residents access to high-wage jobs.”

Said Delta CEO Ed Bastian, “Investing in the communities where we live, work and service is part of our DNA at Delta, and the Center for Workforce Innovation is a great opportunity to prepare students for the highly skilled jobs Atlanta companies need to compete in the global environment. It has been an honor to chair this effort, and I’m excited about the future Delta employees who will join us in the years to come thanks to this initiative.”