Leveraging Employer Partnerships to Meet Regional Workforce Needs in West Central Georgia - How West Georgia Technical College Is Becoming the Upskilling and Reskilling Partner of Choice for Employers

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Rhys

The case study examines how West Georgia Technical College addresses rapidly rising regional demand for advanced manufacturing and logistics talent amid a widening skills gap. It describes the challenge of sourcing skilled labor with varying workforce capabilities and outlines the solution: creating a Regional Workforce Training Center (RWTC). RWTC consolidates employer skills needs, delivers quick-response upskilling and reskilling, and supports micro-credentials to strengthen workforce diversity and meet evolving business and community requirements.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages8

Reading Time20 min

AccessFree to download

The Challenge

The Solution

Outcomes

Community Colleges as the Training Partner of Choice for Employers

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2024 | CASE STUDY | | --- | --- | | LEVERAGING EMPLOYER PARTNERSHIPS TO MEET REGIONAL WORKFORCE NEEDS IN WEST CENTRAL GEORGIA
How West Georgia Technical College Is Becoming the Upskilling and Reskilling Partner of Choice for Employers
WWW. BHEF. COM / © 2024 BHEF | | 01 The Challenge 02 The Solution 04 Outcomes 05 Community Colleges asthe Training Partner of Choice for Employers ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Business-Higher Education Forum and West Georgia Technical College acknowledges the Strada Education Foundation’s Employer and Community College Partnership Challenge for their support of this work. Additionally, the Business-Higher Education Forum thanks West Georgia Technical College and their corporate partners for providing detailed information and insights on their respective roles, partnerships, and programs, namely: Lawanda Barradas, Assistant Manager of Human Resources, Hyundai Transys Georgia Powertrain Matthew Bell, Manager of Safety, Training, and Analytics, Ground Support Equipment, Delta Airlines Kelley Bush, Director of Workforce Development and Existing Industry, Troup County Development Authority Steve Cromer, Vice President of Economic Development, West Georgia Technical College Julie Post, President, West Georgia Technical College ABOUT WEST GEORGIA TECHNICAL COLLEGE West Georgia Technical College, with campuses in Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson, and Troup counties and class sites in Heard and Meriwether counties, offers more than 120 associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate programs of study. A unit of the Technical College System of Georgia, West Georgia Tech is one of the largest of the state’s 22 technical colleges. For more information, please visit www. [westgatech.edu](westgatech.edu). ABOUT THE REGIONAL WORKFORCE TRAINING CENTER The Regional Workforce Training Center (RWTC) at West Georgia Technical College offers on-demand, customized training tailored to meet the specific needs of local industries. Our experienced faculty and staff provide ongoing training and upskilling for workers to ensure businesses remain productive and competitive. Additionally, RWTC delivers professional development at all organizational levels, empowering employees to enhance their performance and skills, thereby increasing their value to their employers. ABOUT THE BUSINESS-HIGHER EDUCATION FORUM The Business-Higher Education Forum is a national nonprofit network connecting innovative corporate and higher education leaders to identify emerging skills and co-develop pathways that address talent gaps in critical areas. We empower and catalyze collaborations that deliver accelerated, inclusive, and effective solutions across education and work. Business and university leaders join the Forum to drive innovation that meets the changing talent needs of learners, workers, and businesses. SUGGESTED CITATION: Alvarado, E. and Blochinger, S. (June 2024). Leveraging Employer Partnerships to Meet Regional Workforce Needs in West Central Georgia: How West Georgia Technical College Is Becoming the Upskilling andReskilling Partner of Choice for Employers. Business-Higher Education Forum. | THE CHALLENGE
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West central Georgia has become a burgeoning center for advanced manufacturing and logistics. With facilities for global brands across automotive, agriculture, tech, and biotech industries, the region (which includes Carroll, Coweta, Douglas, Haralson, Heard, Meriwether, and Troup counties) has experienced a 100+ percent surge in job demand for manufacturing engineers, machine operators, and material assembly shift technicians alone.1 With one job posting for every 61 residents,2 the area is seeing strong growth coupled with a wide talent-supply gap in these occupations. This rapid growth, combined with the impact from the COVID-19 pandemic, creates a unique challenge in sourcing skilled labor in a region where the workforce has varying skill levels.
This case study

FAQs

What regional workforce problem does the case study focus on?

It focuses on West Central Georgia’s sharp growth in job demand for advanced manufacturing and logistics roles alongside a wide talent-supply gap and uneven workforce skill levels.

What is the RWTC and what purpose does it serve?

The Regional Workforce Training Center (RWTC) provides on-demand, customized training aligned to local industry needs, helping both entry-level talent and incumbent workers upskill and reskill.

How does the case study say RWTC improves training effectiveness for employers?

RWTC consolidates employer skills needs through industry advisory boards, delivers quick-response real-time training, and supports stackable, credit-bearing micro-credentials.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Rhys