Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal signed the Fiscal Year 2018 budget at West Georgia Technical College Monday, highlighting the more than $11 million in funding allocated for world-class lab equipment for the Technical College System of Georgia.

“This budget will improve the lives and futures of Georgians across our great state, and thus the lives of their children and grandchildren,” Deal said in his remarks Monday, held in the Precision Manufacturing Lab on West Georgia Tech’s LaGrange Campus. “We are so proud of all these students who are getting the skills they need to attract more and more businesses and industries to our state. These students are reasons why Georgia is the best state in the nation to do business.”

Deal signed House Bill 44, the FY18 state budget totaling more than $25 billion, surrounded by members of the Georgia General Assembly Monday. Deal said he wanted to sign the budget at West Georgia Tech because of the millions of dollars allocated in the budget for TCSG for enhanced labs and instructional equipment.

“The FY 2018 budget maintains Georgia’s position as a national leader in conservative fiscal management and further strengthens our top priorities: quality education for all children, public safety in our communities, an economy that continues to generate jobs and an infrastructure system that supports a growing population,” Deal said.

The budget also includes $20.5 million for the Move On When Ready program, which allows high-school students to attend higher education institutions while enrolled in high school to earn credit for both high school and their post-secondary education for free.