Economy brings students to TTCS

Ivan Jones (T-G file photo) [Click to enlarge] [Order this photo]

Uncertainty about the economy, and the closure of local factories, leads some to consider new training in search of a new job.

Tennessee Technology Center at Shelbyville on Madison Street, faced with an influx of interest from students, is struggling to find classes for all of those who are interested, but TTCS director Ivan Jones hopes that stimulus package funds will be available to train more people.

"We've heard from Workforce Investment," a division of the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development, Jones said. "They are hopefully going to fund some classes for us."

A tight economy hurts those who are losing their jobs but also young people entering the workforce for the first time, and Jones said TTCS is looking at programs to benefit 18-24 year-olds.

Jones said interest in TTCS programs has been "pretty much across the board" when it comes to subject area. There are a few trends, however; those who worked in factories are often interested in the industrial maintenance technician program. They know they need to pick up skills in robotics and programmable logic controllers for industrial equipment, said Jones.

Also, some women who previously worked in factories are interested in the business systems technology program, hoping they can transition from factory jobs into office jobs.

But it may not be clear what skills are needed until new jobs open up.

"There's still a lot of unknowns out there," said Jones.

Jones said those who are interested in TTCS training need to stay in touch with the facility, even if space isn't available right away.

TTCS uses potential student interest to gauge which programs to pursue, and also contacts prior applicants to see if they are still interested when slots open up.

Full-time programs at TTCS include automotive technology, collision repair, business systems technology, computer information technology, drafting and CAD technology, heating/ventilation/air conditioning/refrigeration, industrial electricity, industrial maintenance, machine tool technology, patient care technician, practical nursing, nursing application procedures, truck driving and welding.

What you can do

TTCS can be reached at 685-5013; the web site is www.ttcshelbyville.edu.