Dignitaries and special guests were all smiles as they shoveled the ceremonial dirt. (L to R) Rep. Doreen Carter, Stonecrest City Councilor Rob Turner, Stonecrest Mayor Jazzmin Cobble, Ga. Sen. Emanuel Jones, GPTC President Dr. Tavarez Holston, DeKalb County CEO Michael Thurmond, DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Johnson, U.S. Rep. Hank Johnson, GPTC CDL Instructor Selina James and DeKalb Commissioner Steve Bradshaw.

The Georgia Piedmont Technical College history books will be adding August 30, 2023 as a red-letter day as more than 100 people came to celebrate the groundbreaking of the college’s future Regional Transportation Training Center in Stonecrest. Representatives from all levels of government joined GPTC staff and faculty, supporters, and students in the ceremonial groundbreaking on Marbut Road. This multi-million-dollar project was primarily funded by federal, state, and local governmental entities with nearly $7M from the state of Georgia, $4M from DeKalb County, $1M from the federal Community Project Funding program via Congressman Hank Johnson, and $500K from the City of Stonecrest. There have also been several contributions from private organizations.

In his remarks, Georgia Piedmont’s president Dr. Tavarez Holston spoke about the importance of collaboration so it may lead to workforce development and success.

“If it weren’t for every one of you all here today, and countless other folks, our students would have a tough time,” Dr. Holston said. “But thanks to the visionary leadership of all levels of government and community partners, we all better see how this new facility will serve our state, our country, and our students for generations to come. It is truly humbling and greatly appreciated.”

When completed, the RTTC will be the largest training facility of its kind in our part of the country.

“No one on the East Coast will do transportation training like we do,” Dr. Holston said. “This will be an economic development engine with regional impact that will further bolster our position as an economic powerhouse by leveraging our resources from the amazing airports at Hartsfield and Peachtree-DeKalb to our deepened ports in Savannah. We will keep it moving.”

When completed in or around fall of 2024, the new RTTC will measure an estimated 24,000 square feet and will have the resources and space available to double the number of students enrolled in the college’s commercial truck driving program to almost 200. The new facility will house additional programs including civil engineering, logistics, and diesel – with between 600-800 students expected each term.