GNTC celebrates new Commercial Truck Driving Range in Rockmart

Georgia Northwestern Technical College (GNTC) hosted a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for its new Commercial Truck Driving Range recently at GNTC’s Polk County Campus in Rockmart.

The new driving range, which is 150 feet by 340 feet, and the current range will be used to train and certify students for a restricted Class A Commercial Truck Driving (CDL) license as part of the Electrical Lineworker Program. Class B CDL training and certification will also be made available to the public. Business and industry partners will provide both Class A and/or Class B CDL training as an opportunity to upskill current employees. These programs are offered through GNTC’s Office of Economic Development.

“This new range represents a significant milestone for GNTC and our surrounding community,” said Dr. Heidi Popham, president of GNTC. “The driving range will provide invaluable hands-on training for students of our Economic Development CDL programs, equipping them with real-world skills they need to navigate successful careers in the transportation industry. This driving range also supports GNTC’s Electrical Lineworker Program, which started in partnership with Georgia Power.”

These trainings prepare the next generation of workers who will keep communities safe and connected, Popham said.

(From left) Charles Laurens, project manager with Rochester and Associates Inc.; Bryan Roberts, senior project manager with Northwest Georgia Paving Inc.; Dr. Heidi Popham, president of GNTC; and Angela Berch, vice president of Economic Development at GNTC, celebrate the completion of the second Commercial Truck Driving Range at GNTC’s Polk County Campus in Rockmart.

“None of this would have been possible without our supportive legislative delegation, our business and industry partners, Georgia Power, Southern Company and our community leaders,” Popham said.

“This second range was needed because one range could no longer accommodate everything Economic Development offers,” said Angela Berch, vice president of Economic Development at GNTC.

Having two ranges will allow GNTC to offer the two continuing education training programs, Lineworker Program and CDL Class B, as well as a Corporate CDL Training Program, U.S. Department of Labor CDL Apprenticeships and CDL Class B for area employers, Berch explained.

Rochester and Associates Inc. of Gainesville designed the range, and Northwest Georgia Paving Inc. of Calhoun was the contractor.

“The new range allows us to grow and look to the future,” Berch said.

Georgia Northwestern Technical College provides quality workforce education to the citizens of northwest Georgia. Students have the opportunity to earn an associate degree, diploma or a certificate in aviation, business, health, industrial or public service career paths. This past year, 12,241 people benefited from GNTC’s credit and noncredit programs. GNTC has an annual credit enrollment of 8,031 students and an additional enrollment of 4,210 people through adult education, continuing education, business and industry training and Georgia Quick Start.