Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville receives GIVE grant from Tennessee Higher Education Commission

Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville has received a GIVE grant from the Tennessee Higher Education Commission. The GIVE grant, which is the Governor’s Investment in Vocational Education grant, will help the school in its Pathways to Accelerated Career Experiences initiative, which will enhance workforce training and career education.

According to an article on TCAT Nashville’s website, Nathan Garrett, the school’s president, was quoted as saying of the grant award, "We are thrilled to receive the GIVE 3.0 grant, which will allow us to create dual enrollment programs in partnership with our MNPS. This initiative is a testament to the strong collaboration between our college, the local community, and our dedicated educators. Together, we are opening doors to higher education and creating new pathways for our students to achieve their academic and career goals. This is more than just an investment in our schools; it’s an investment in the future of our entire community.”

The dual enrollment partnership has been established between TCAT Nashville, Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools, Nashville Area Chamber of Commerce, Tennessee Titans, Turner Construction, Perkins Construction, Eclipse Construction Group, Empower Electric, and Tudor Build Group. The dual enrollment programs are available at Glencliff High School and McGavock High School, allowing high school students to receive workforce training in Industrial Electricity and Build Construction Technology.

The GIVE grant was established by Tennessee Governor Bill Lee in 2019 as a means of establishing better pathways to workforce enhancement by fostering partnerships between local school districts and local employers. This third round of funding will give a total of $41 million around the state for community colleges, TCATS, and businesses.

The GIVE grant’s webpage on the Tennessee Higher Education Commission’s website states that the grants are “awarded to collaborative efforts that create or expand academic programs, develop work-based learning experiences, or provide industry-recognized certifications in areas of high demand” and that one of the goals of the initiative is to help ramp up economic growth in the state.

Of the new round of funding, Lee said, “The state with the workers will win every time, and that’s why workforce development has been one of my top priorities since day one. As a result, companies are choosing to invest and expand in our state, creating greater opportunity and quality of life for all Tennesseans.”

For more information about Tennessee College of Applied Technology Nashville, visit the school’s website.