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OTC Unlocks Expanded Capacity For Training in New Georgia Training Center for Industrial Operations

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Ogeechee Technical College (OTC) marked a major milestone in its workforce development efforts Oct. 15 with the grand opening of the Georgia Training Center for Industrial Operations (GTCIO), a new facility designed to help prepare the southeast Georgia workforce for careers in advanced manufacturing and industrial technology.

The 40,000-square-foot center represents a $27 million investment in the region's workforce. With 12 laboratories, classrooms and specialized training spaces, the facility expands OTC's ability to deliver hands-on instruction in industrial systems, automation and robotics. The college anticipates providing approximately 460,000 hours of training annually, with participants projected to earn more than 6,000 nationally recognized credentials each year through the Smart Automation Certification Alliance (SACA).

The opening ceremony brought together state and local leaders, educators and community partners to celebrate the center's anticipated strengthening of the regional workforce. The Statesboro High School band kicked off the event, followed by remarks from OTC President Lori Durden.

“The opening of the Georgia Training Center for Industrial Operations reflects what we can accomplish when education, industry and government work toward a shared goal,” said Durden. “This investment expands opportunities for our students, gives employers another resource to develop their workforce and helps position southeast Georgia for continued economic growth.”

The center builds on OTC's commitment to align technical education with the needs of regional employers. As manufacturing operations increasingly incorporate automated equipment and advanced technologies, businesses need employees who can install, maintain, troubleshoot and operate complex industrial systems. The GTCIO more than doubles the college’s capacity to prepare workers for those responsibilities.

“Workforce needs are changing faster than they ever have. The technology used in manufacturing and industry continues to evolve, and employers need people who can step into those workplaces with the skills to contribute from day one, and that's what we do at our technical college system,” said TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier. “We don't simply train people for the jobs that exist today. We work with employers to understand what their needs are, not just today, but we prepare them for the opportunities that are coming next.”

The facility also houses OTC's Industrial Operations Technology diploma program, which began this fall. The four-semester program provides students with a pathway into industrial maintenance, automation and related technical careers. In addition to preparing future technicians and automation engineers, the center enables employers to access customized contract training for current employees, as well as internship and apprenticeship opportunities.

Jan Moore, OTC's Vice President for Economic Development, said the center gives the college greater flexibility to respond to the training needs of businesses throughout the region.

“The GTCIO will allow the college to grow alongside the region’s industrial, manufacturing, and logistical community,” Moore said. “Automation is evolving at a record pace, and we need to be able to train for that evolution. It is coming, and this facility will give us the ability to do that well into the foreseeable future.”

The project was made possible through a partnership involving the state, the Technical College System of Georgia, OTC and local economic development leaders. The state provided $26.5 million in funding, the Development Authority of Bulloch County contributed land valued at $595,000, and Bulloch County committed $663,500 toward an access road serving the facility.

The center's anticipated impact extends beyond the classroom. An economic analysis by Georgia Southern University's Center for Business Analytics and Economic Research projects that industrial operations training at OTC will contribute $13.21 million in annual economic output across coastal Georgia in fiscal year 2027. By fiscal year 2035, annual economic output is projected to reach $16.64 million.

“This center will help all of us in the region as we recruit new businesses here, said Benjy Thompson, CEO of the Development Authority of Bulloch County. “This center is a unique asset. There's nothing like it in the state of Georgia, and we'll market it as such to prospective recruits.

Training at GTCIO began Oct. 5, allowing students to use the new facility before its official opening. With expanded laboratory space and additional capacity for specialized instruction, OTC will be better positioned to serve students, support regional businesses and respond to changing workforce demands.

For information about the Georgia Training Center for Industrial Operations and its training opportunities, visit www.gtcio.org.

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