JSCC, TCAT Jackson to break ground on Regional Workforce Training Center

Jackson State Community College (JSCC) is set to hold a groundbreaking ceremony on Tuesday, November 19, 2025, at 2:30 p.m., for the future home of its $34.5 million Regional Workforce Training Center (RWTC) on its Jackson Campus.

The groundbreaking ceremony, featuring leadership from both JSSC and Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Jackson, Tennessee Board of Regents Chancellor Flora Tydings, Greater Jackson Chamber leadership, and local officials, will take place on the northwest corner of the campus. A reception will follow in the lobby of the Ned R. McWherter Building where renderings of the RWTC, blueprints, and the project team will be available.

Preparation and construction of the 67,800-square-foot facility will take place at the northwest corner of the JSCC Jackson campus in the early spring. The site was strategically selected to create a powerful impression at the corner of Dr. F.E. Wright Drive and North Parkway for those both attending and visiting the college.

“Our commitment to industries across the region is unwavering, and the addition of this Regional Workforce Training Center further solidifies that notion,” said Dr. Carol Rothstein, JSCC President. “This new facility will not only allow us to expand our role in producing top talent for our industry partners, but also allow the community a state-of-the-art space to host gatherings, develop new technologies, and further capitalize on the excellent things already being developed here in West Tennessee.”

Featuring more than 33,000 square feet of instructional space, including the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Jackson Tool & Die program, the new facility will allow expansion of JSCC’s Engineering Systems Technology program to more than 130 students in less than five years across both night and day cohorts. This program is known for its nationally award-winning Advanced Maintenance Technician (AMT) Co-op that is embedded into program.

The new facility will also allow the college’s Workforce Solutions division to expand its current on-ground training catalog by having dedicated classrooms and instructional space throughout the building to conduct workforce training for local and regional industry partners.

More than 10,000 square feet of the facility will feature three leasable flex spaces ranging 3,000 +/- square feet each. Each bay will serve as a blank slate for local industry to lease and utilize for industrial equipment training, research and development, or whatever they so choose. The entire 10,000-square-foot section of the building features oversized bay doors, to allow for large industrial equipment to be moved throughout the facility to allow for adaptability of each space based on the functionality needed by each industry.

With the community’s need for meeting and event space in mind, the new facility will feature a 3,609-square-foot flexible meeting space with floor-to-ceiling glass windows overlooking the college’s award-winning campus. A prep kitchen will also accommodate the space, allowing for large corporate events, trainings, luncheons, and more.

Funding for the RWTC was made possible by funding allocated in 2022 by the State of Tennessee as part of a long-standing proposal by the Greater Jackson Chamber. Jackson State Community College, a TBR institution commissioned by the State of Tennessee, was selected as the site for the RWTC due to its geographic location, educational impact, and established connection to industries across West Tennessee.

To RSVP for the groundbreaking ceremony or for updates regarding the project and more, visit jscc.edu/rwtc

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