Georgia Workforce Training Named Best in the Nation
Quick Start and State Technical Colleges like Coosa Valley Technical College Credited
ATLANTA, Dec. 1, 2005 – Site selection consultants from around the country recently recognized Georgia’s workforce training programs as the best in the U.S.
“Programs are judged not only in terms of their financial value but also in terms of ease of usage and applicability,” reported Expansion Management magazine when announcing the results of its annual survey. “In a poll of 80 corporate site location consultants, Georgia’s workforce training program was ranked No. 1 in the country.”
Site selection consultants are economic development professionals who advise companies on where to locate new facilities that create new jobs. Quick Start, which provides customized training free of charge to qualified companies, and Georgia’s system of technical colleges, which includes Coosa Valley Technical College, were specifically credited with earning Georgia the top ranking.
“Quick Start and our technical college system are two of Georgia’s best assets for attracting new business to Georgia. This survey demonstrates that our commitment to a quality workforce is making a difference,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “When I travel overseas and meet with executives of major international companies, the quality of our workforce and praise for Quick Start and our technical colleges is almost always a part of the conversation.”
“We frequently boast that ‘workforce training is our only business,’” said Mike Vollmer, commissioner of the Department of Technical and Adult Education, which includes Quick Start and Georgia’s technical colleges. “And now we can boast that we’re the best in that business.”
“What we provide companies and the citizens they employ are the training services needed to create and keep jobs in Georgia,” said Jackie Rohosky, assistant commissioner for the Department of Technical and Adult Education, who oversees the Quick Start program. “It’s an honor to be recognized by the very professionals who help companies decide where they will make new investment.”
In Northwest Georgia, Quick Start works closely with Coosa Valley Technical College to support a company’s training needs. Quick Start provides start-up training, and Coosa Valley Technical College provides ongoing customized training services. “Recently our collaboration with Georgia Quick Start has helped bring more than 1,000 jobs to the Coosa Valley region with companies that include Pirelli Tire, F&P Georgia, Suzuki Manufacturing of America, Florida Tile, Jefferson Southern Corporation, Mohawk Home, Racemark International and most recently, Faus Flooring. Being able to provide customized training to meet the needs of these companies has helped create good jobs in Northwest Georgia and allows us to continue the positive economic development of our region,” stated Pete McDonald, Coosa Valley Technical College’s Vice President of Economic Development.
Last year, Quick Start delivered training for 283 projects -- 70% of which were outside metro Atlanta -- with client companies creating 29,451 direct or indirect new jobs. More than 1,600 companies contracted for customized training with Georgia’s technical colleges, which involved more than 120,000 trainees. Quick Start and Georgia’s technical colleges are both part of the Georgia Department of Technical and Adult Education.
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