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variety of postsecondary institutions—universities, community colleges, and
technology schools—that will explore ways to meet the emerging Blue Oval City
workforce needs for an array of positions, such as engineer, technician, buyer,
designer, and consultant (personal communication, April 6, 2022). Dr. Duane Gregg,
GEAR UP Tennessee Project Director, also points out that Blue Oval City will
potentially emphasize the need for employees with postsecondary degrees (personal
communication, March 28, 2022). Of these postsecondary options, the technology
schools—most specifically the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT)-
Jackson—are poised for immediate growth since they already have many of the
programs that the Ford/SK Innovations facility will require (Yu, 2021). Tennessee’s
system of TCATs currently consists of 27 technical colleges, some with multiple
locations and branches, and has a mission of
providing workforce development through state-
of-the-art technical training courses specific to What influences and
the industries located in the service delivery
areas of the state (TCAT-Jackson, 2022). With opportunities change
the arrival of Ford’s Blue Oval City, the industry
profile of West Tennessee is about to undergo educational perspectives? How

a dramatic transformation that will also affect do educational institutions
the industry certification programs that TCAT-
Jackson will offer. prepare for rapid change when a
In fact, the megasite will become home to
a new TCAT campus to create an employee significant change agent appears
pipeline for Blue Oval City (Aldrich, 2021).
According to TCAT-Jackson president Dr. Jeff on the horizon?
Sisk, this $40 million TCAT facility on the site
of Blue Oval City was part of the incentive
package that the State of Tennessee offered to Ford and replicates successful
partnerships elsewhere in Tennessee between other TCAT campuses and automotive
manufacturers Nissan and Volkswagen (personal communication, April 21, 2022).
The newly appointed executive vice president for the Blue Oval City Campus, Heath
McMillian, brings to his new position not only technical manufacturing experience
but also workforce development experience, including apprenticeship programs
and experience with a large industrial employer—just what the new Blue Oval City
TCAT will need (J. Sisk, personal communication, May 9, 2022).
TCAT-Jackson is currently working with Ford to align employee skills and
competencies with current TCAT academic programming as well as with the
educational programming available in local secondary schools and community
colleges. Although area high schools have, for years, been offering dual-enrollment
courses through various postsecondary partners, Sisk expects the TCAT dual-
enrollment options to increase for those school systems surrounding Blue Oval City
(personal communication, April 21, 2022), something confirmed by Dr. Gregg with
GEAR UP Tennessee, who anticipates not only an increase in Early Post-Secondary
Opportunities (EPSO) in general and the number of students taking advantage of
them but also in the number of Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses
offered at area high schools (personal communication, March 28, 2022).
According to Haywood High School principal Brittany Avent, her school,
located only 20 miles from the megasite, is also working closely with Ford to help
meet their initial need for skilled workers: “Ford has been very clear in multiple exit

Changing Perspectives on Teaching and Learning 57