On Wednesday, August 26, 2020, Governor Brian Kemp and First Lady Marty Kemp attended the announcement of the Regional College and Career Academy (RCCA). The event was held on the Coastal Pines Technical College (CPTC) Baxley campus, where the Regional College and Career Academy will be built. Governor Kemp Awarded 3 million dollars to allocate for the construction of the Regional College and Career Academy.
The Regional College and Career Academy will be a five-county effort that includes Appling County, Wayne County, Jeff Davis County, Bacon County and Pierce County. The project started when Dr. Scarlett Copeland, Appling County School Superintendent, had the idea to partner with Coastal Pines Technical College to begin a College and Career Academy. Once conversations began, it was obvious that extending the reach of the College and Career Academy would be beneficial to all five communities. Making this project a regional career academy was the best way to benefit economic development efforts and help supply the workforce development needs of all five counties.
Through the help of the five school superintendents, Dr. Scarlett Copeland of Appling County Schools, Dr Jay Brinson of Wayne County Schools, Dr. Chris Roppe of Jeff Davis County Schools, Judy Rowland of Bacon County Schools, and Dara Bennett of Pierce County Schools, and Dr. Glenn Deibert, President of Coastal Pines Technical College, it was determined what program offerings would be needed to accommodate the workforce needs of the region. A Community Needs Assessment was conducted by the College in each of the participating counties and from there, program offerings were chosen. Programs identified as being needed at the Regional College and Career Academy are Welding and Joining Technology, Electrical Systems Technology, Construction, Drone Technology, Forestry, Industrial Systems Technology, Nurse Aide, and Computer Programming. Along with these programs, Dual Enrollment students at the RCCA will also have access to existing program offerings at the CPTC Baxley campus.
Governor Kemp in conjunction with the Technical College System of Georgia Commissioner, Greg Dozier, have awarded the College 3 million dollars for the construction of the Regional College and Career Academy. Through the persistence of the participating school boards, as well the behind the scenes support of Southeast Coastal Partners, and State Representatives fighting for our community, this project has come to fruition and will have a huge economic impact in the five regional communities.
Governor Kemp acknowledged Senator Blake Tillery on his work in ensuring this project would be a success, as well as Representative Steven Meeks and Representative Greg Morris who were also instrumental in guiding this funding through the legislature. Governor Kemp stated, “We continue to work with great leaders like Sidney Wildes and Superintendent Copeland, Coastal Pines, and many other people as we secured money in the bond package to fund local projects that would put hard working Georgians to first. That includes the Regional College and Career Academy.”
Information about the progression of the Regional College and Career Academy will be posted to www.coastalpines.edu as updates are released.
Group of representitives for each of the five participating counties and CPTC respresentatives pictured with Governor Brian Kemp.