The event took place on Friday, August 21, and was held in partnership with Tennessee Colleges of Applied Technology - Hohenwald and Pulaski.
Columbia State Community College, Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Hohenwald, and TCAT Pulaski held a grand opening ceremony for the new Southern Regional Technology Center on August 21, 2026. The new Southern Regional Technology Center will house training programs for high-demand careers that include medical laboratory technology, nursing, practical nursing (LPN), veterinary technology, medical informatics, radiologic technology, respiratory care, engineering systems technology, welding, HVAC, and automotive technology.
According to an article on Columbia State Community College’s website, Dr. Janet F. Smith made remarks at the grand opening ceremony. She is quoted as saying, “Today marks far more than just the opening of a new building. It represents years of vision, partnership, perseverance and the unwavering commitment to the students and the communities we serve. The vision of this facility began with the need to replace aging health sciences facilities with learning spaces designed for today's healthcare education. So, in partnership with TCAT Hohenwald and TCAT Pulaski, we created a shared regional resource to serve students, support employers and to strengthen communities throughout southern Middle Tennessee; the result is the SRTC. The SRTC is ultimately an investment in people. It is an investment in workforce development. It is an investment in stronger communities, and it is an investment in future generations. This facility demonstrates what can happen when educational institutions, government leaders, community partners and industry work together around a shared vision. Years from now, the true measure, the very true measure of this facility will not be found in the walls or the laboratories or the technology. It will be found in the thousands of students who learn here, the careers they build and the communities they strengthen. That, my friends, is the legacy we celebrate today. That is the SRTC.”
The new Southern Regional Technology Center will be a regional hub for hands-on training in careers that are currently in high demand in the region, providing the community with access to education that will transform their lives and lead them to working in the type of jobs that are directly in need of qualified workers. The facility is a collaborative effort between Columbia State Community College, TCAT Hohenwald, and TCAT Pulaski.
Speaking of this collaborative partnership, Mike Whitehead, who serves as the president of TCAT Pulaski, said, “The Southern Regional Technology Center is a great example of what can happen when institutions work together, and when they collaborate and focus on what is best for our students and the communities that we serve. That's really what this facility is all about—access and opportunity. TCAT Pulaski is very proud to offer two programs here at the SRTC: welding technology and heating, ventilation, air conditioning and refrigeration. Both are high-demand programs that prepare students for careers that are essential to the industries, businesses and communities throughout southern Middle Tennessee. Whether a student receives training here at the SRTC or at our main campus in Pulaski, our goal is the same: to provide high-quality, hands-on technical education that leads to a great career and provides the skilled workforce that our region needs.”
Dr. Kelli Kea-Carroll, the president of TCAT Hohenwald, added, “For TCAT Hohenwald and the SRTC, it is a dream come true for our technical program to include automotive, which will also include EV and hybrid, and for practical nursing, with the SRTC providing a permanent home and existence in Maury County for future economic growth and a steady supply of quality technical graduates for our workforce. With our motto, ‘Career in a Year,’ isn't it exciting to think that within a year we will see students graduate and walk across the stage right here, maybe this very day? This joint collaboration and partnership of the Tennessee Board of Regents system, student success and workforce development is an example of what may be accomplished with our system when goals align.”
Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor Dr. Flora Tydings said, “What we do at our system every single day is about the business of why you're here. This is a community effort. The community stepped up and helped us in ways that we will be forever grateful, because this college is a part of you. It is a part of your students. It's a part of your graduates. It’s a part of your workforce every single day. It's been here for 60 years because you have supported this college, and we are so thankful to you for that. At the Tennessee Board of Regents, we believe in being efficient. We believe in using our buildings to the best of our ability. So, you have three colleges operating in one facility. It will be nonstop, all day long and all night long. So that we look very forward to. I also want to point out that there is a gentleman that we need to thank, and that is Governor Bill Lee. This building is part of a $1.5 billion investment that he has made in the state of Tennessee over the last three years. He put that money in the budget, but there are two gentlemen here tonight who had to vote for that money to stay in the budget, and that is Senator Joey Hensley and Representative Scott Cepicky. We would not be here without them. To everyone who made this possible, thank you for being here. Thank you for supporting this school. Please continue to support the work that will be happening here as it moves forward into its next 60 years.”
Event attendees were able to tour the new facility to see the kind of equipment students will be training with. After the tour, there was a drone light show to commemorate the event.
For more information about Columbia State Community College, visit the school’s website.