TCAT Knoxville – Anderson County

In response to local industries' needs for a skilled workforce, in 2013 the Anderson County Board of Education and the Chamber of Commerce began to explore ways to bring additional technical training programs to the area. In 2014, the Anderson County Career & Technical Center began to provide evening classes in welding and cosmetology from TCAT-Knoxville to alleviate overcrowding at the main campus, an endeavor supported by local industries and economic development partners. These collaborators also organized tours of local industries to raise awareness about job opportunities in advanced manufacturing.

The Tennessee Promise initiative, launched in 2015, led to a significant surge in college enrollment statewide, particularly in technical schools, emphasizing the demand for technical training programs. In 2016, Anderson County expanded its coalition to create a temporary TCAT campus, renovating an existing commercial building with state approval, private funding, and local support. The facility opened in 2017, offering programs such as welding, injection molding, and industrial maintenance, providing students from multiple counties with immediate job prospects upon program completion.

Funding Sources