The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) celebrates this year’s National Apprenticeship Week and Georgia Apprenticeship Week by hosting the state’s first-ever Georgia Apprenticeship Summit to highlight the importance of apprenticeships in building a skilled, industry-leading workforce in Georgia.

At the event on Thursday, workforce leaders, Georgia businesses, and community stakeholders gathered to learn about how apprenticeships can expand the state’s workforce, and how employers and communities can access funding and resources provided by TCSG and local technical colleges, which collectively serve as the state’s largest network of Registered Apprenticeship sponsors.

“For many Georgians, there are now job opportunities in their backyards that would be hard to imagine just a few years ago. Apprenticeships are critical to making sure our workforce not only fills the jobs added to the state, but more importantly has the skills needed the lead in their respective companies and industries,” said TCSG Commissioner Greg Dozier.

In 2022, Georgia announced historic apprenticeship achievements, including:

Establishing Georgia’s first-ever state-funded apprenticeship expansion program, the High Demand Career Initiatives Program;
Announcing the record-breaking $4.2M Apprenticeships for Economic Recovery Grant to create apprenticeships in industries critical to Georgia’s economic recovery; and
Launching Apprentice Georgia, the apprenticeship promotion and expansion arm of TCSG.

“Apprenticeships give us the opportunity to train and educate to our industry’s high standards, and also mentor and develop talent for other businesses, small and large,” said Steve Olive, President of Oasis Aviation Maintenance, Inc., a Georgia employer selected for the 2022 HDCI Program. “The support we receive from the Technical College System of Georgia and our Local Workforce Development Board, WorkSource Three Rivers, has helped us develop a steady pipeline of apprentices and access resources that ensure a successful apprenticeship program.”

To date, TCSG and its network of 22 technical colleges have created more than 220 Registered Apprenticeship Programs, and served more than 1,000 registered apprentices throughout the state. To learn more about Apprentice Georgia and the apprenticeship-related resources available, visit www.TCSG.edu/Apprentice.