Federal, state, and local governmental agencies are financially empowering the development and training of the area’s logistics and transportation workforce. The renovation and construction of Georgia Piedmont Technical College’s Regional Transportation Training Center (RTTC) in Lithonia comes with an estimated $11.9M price tag but thanks to a local congressman, the State of Georgia and DeKalb county, most of the project is already paid for.

In a 2022 grant and memorandum of agreement with the DeKalb County Commission, secured on April 12 by commissioners’ votes, DeKalb has committed a total of $4M over the next two years. In May of 2021, the State of Georgia approved $6.9M in its 2022 budget for the project.

“On behalf of the Board of Commissioners and the residents of DeKalb County, congratulations to GPTC on securing funding for the new transportation training center,” said DeKalb CEO Michael Thurmond. “A well-trained workforce is a critical component of DeKalb’s transportation infrastructure that will support the county’s economic growth and prosperity.”

An artist’s rendering of the future Regional Transportation Training Center in Lithonia

In March of this year, Congressman Henry “Hank” Johnson of Georgia’s 4^th District confirmed $1M more in federal funding. In a congratulatory letter to GPTC President Dr. Tavarez Holston, Congressman Johnson wrote, “It’s my absolute pleasure to announce that the $1 million for Georgia Piedmont Technical College’s Regional Transportation Center is one of the eight Community Project Funding submissions in Georgia’s Fourth Congressional District that are anticipated to become law now that the House and Senate have both passed the Fiscal Year (2022) omnibus appropriations legislation.” President Biden has since signed the legislation. The federal funds are set aside solely for projects which directly impact “underserved areas and foster economic development” in the 4^th District.

Senator Emanuel D. Jones of Georgia’s 10^th District said, “I’m delighted to join with our county, state, and federal partners in bringing the new GPTC transportation center to South DeKalb. The training facility will prepare our future workforce in diesel repair, bus driver, CDL and other high-tech logistics training.”

“The fact that the federal, state, and local governments are investing in this project is a huge win for Georgia Piedmont Technical College, its students, and its mission of providing an educated workforce,” said President Holston. “We invite anyone with an interest in this industry to connect with us in creating an ecosystem like this region has never seen.”

The Regional Transportation Training Center will be instrumental in producing high-demand, skilled workers for the transportation industry, notably commercial truck drivers, logistics, and distribution workers. The future facility will replace deteriorating modular instructional space and will also allow Georgia Piedmont to provide learning space for adult education students who are pursuing their high school equivalency or are studying English as a Second Language.

The new building is expected to measure about 18,000 square feet. The project also includes renovating an existing RTTC building, which measures about 5,000 square feet. Officials with Georgia Piedmont and other partnering agencies expect to break ground in late summer or early fall of 2022 with students and industry partners occupying the new center sometime in 2024.