The new Tennessee College of Applied Technology facility is set to open on U.S. 231 North during the summer of 2024. A pre-groundbreaking event with Shelbyville City and Bedford County officials was held Friday afternoon to commence the state-of-the-art project.

TCAT-S president Laura Monks said, “We just know how much this project means to the community and how they’ve waited. We wanted this to be the first chapter. It’s officially happening.”

The project will go to the state building commission in July, so Monks said the construction should begin in September. The project’s budget is $43 million. The new facility will have capacity for 500 students, instead of the current 350 with the Madison Street location.

The facility will look like a college campus and be walkable. There will also be space for TCAT’s community college and university partners.

“It’s a great time right now to be at TCAT,” said Monks. “More and more people are understanding the importance of technical education.”

Monks said it’s great the state understands the importance of education and educating the future workforce.

Melody Terry is the executive secretary at TCAT-S and has been working there for many years. She said she has loved helping people through the years and says the growth of the school has been mindboggling. “It’s important because of technology. Technology is advancing, so we’ve got to advance right along with it and keep supplying the workforce.”

This project has been in motion for about two years. State Rep. Pat Marsh said during the recent event, “I was really proud to be a small part of it ... It was a team effort and it’s going to change Bedford County for generations.”