Last week Governor Brian Kemp announced the single-largest economic development project in the state’s history – a record $5 billion investment by Rivian Automotive, Inc. to build a massive new manufacturing plant on the I-20 corridor and creating 7,500 jobs. In response, State School Superintendent Richard Woods announced Monday that the Georgia Department of Education is creating a Career Pathway that will equip students with the skills to build a workforce pool for the electric vehicle industry,
The Department of Education’s Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) staff will team with representatives of the industry and educators to develop a pathway of courses that will include EV-specific coursework, along with instruction in engineering, manufacturing, drafting/design, and automotive technology.
“Developing an EV Pathway for Georgia high school students will help strengthen the career pipeline and help meet the needs of industry,” State CTAE Director Dr. Barbara Wall said. “To assist with meeting the workforce needs of Rivian, creating the high school EV pathway will be only the beginning. We are also considering ways to provide early exposure to careers provided at Rivian for our middle and elementary schoolers.”
Education officials said that local superintendents and CTAE directors in the school districts most immediately impacted by the Rivian announcement – Jasper County, Morgan County, Newton County, Walton County, and Social Circle City – are working to ensure a close partnership that will expand opportunities for students.
“With the exciting news released regarding the Rivian plant coming to our area, our school system is looking forward to working with economic development to meet the needs of workforce training through our CTAE programs here in Jasper County,” said Kenny Garland, Jasper County Schools Superintendent. “With 7,500 jobs expected to be located in the facility, our school system is excited to learn more about workforce expectations in terms of training and development in order to meet the labor demands.”
According to the Governor’s announcement last week, Rivian is investing the $5 billion in a carbon-conscious campus in Georgia on just under 2,000 acres located at the site known as the East Atlanta Megasite. Once manufacturing operations are fully ramped up, the Georgia facility will be capable of producing up to 400,000 vehicles per year.
Construction on the facility, located at Stanton Springs North, is expected to begin in summer 2022, and the start of production is slated for 2024. Rivian’s technology centers at the new campus will support the company’s research and development programs. The entire project will support the expansion of the U.S. electric vehicle industry and will serve to decarbonize the transportation and energy sectors.
“As educators, it is our responsibility to prepare students for successful futures – so it’s essential that we mount a rapid response to emerging workforce needs within the state of Georgia,” Superintendent Woods said.
Georgia’s CTAE program is designed to provide a high-school experience that prepares students for their lives after high school. Students are given the opportunity to learn skills for real-world careers in more than 100 Career Pathways, while earning recognized industry credentials and participating in work-based learning and apprenticeship opportunities.
