AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Georgia Power Foundation has awarded $250,000 to support the Automotive Institute at Augusta Technical College, we learned on Monday.
Once completed, the university says the new training center will provide workforce training for more than 1,000 skilled technicians each year in the high-demand automotive and auto body fields.
“We are so pleased with the tremendous support Augusta Tech has always received from our partners at Georgia Power,” said Dr. Jermaine Whirl, president of Augusta Tech. “They have a strong commitment to empowering our community.”
Whirl says this investment in the Automotive Institute will help ensure that students will be able to access lucrative jobs, build sustainable careers to take care of their families and build stronger communities.
At 65,000 square feet, the Automotive Institute will dwarf the College’s current 10,000-square-foot automotive training space, according to a press release.
“We are excited to support Augusta Technical College’s Automotive Institute, which will play a crucial role in developing the skilled workforce needed to meet the demands of the rapidly evolving automotive industry,” said Kerry Bridges, Region Executive at Georgia Power. “Investing in education and workforce development is essential for the continued growth and prosperity of our community, and we are proud to be a part of this transformative initiative.”
The Automotive Institute will be located at 1122 Walton Way, the former site of Johnson Cadillac.
The facility will offer diploma and technical certificates of credit programs in automotive technology, covering combustion, electric, hybrid and diesel engines.
The university says it will introduce training in auto body and collision repair and that it also plans to incorporate automotive industry-specific courses into its Associate of Applied Science degrees.
To support local businesses, the Institute says it will provide noncredit training and upskilling opportunities for the current workforce through the College’s Division of Economic Development.
In recognition of a $1 million gift from the Jim Hudson Automotive Group, the facility will be named the Jim Hudson Automotive Institute.
The College has also received $1 million in contributions from both Augusta National Golf Club and the Knox Foundation to acquire the facility. Several area dealerships and businesses have also made six-figure contributions, according to a press release.
Copyright 2025 WRDW/WAGT. All rights reserved.