Meridian Community College Oct. 21, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Transportation Technology Training Center (TTC).
The center provides hands-on training in automotive and diesel technology, preparing students for careers in high-demand fields while helping meet the workforce needs of East Mississippi employers, according to a statement from thew college.
“While we’re certainly excited about this facility, the beautiful classrooms, the state-of-the-art equipment, what we’re really celebrating today is opportunity,” said MCC President Dr. Tom Huebner. “Opportunity for our students, for our local businesses and industries and opportunity for our region.”
Located in a renovated former automotive repair facility, the center features classrooms and equipment designed to give students practical experience with the systems and technologies used in today’s transportation industry.
MCC’s Automotive Technology program prepares students for careers as automotive technicians and mechanics through hands-on instruction in diagnosing, servicing and repairing modern vehicles, including complex computer-controlled electrical systems. Students can earn an Associate of Applied Science degree while developing the technical and problem-solving skills needed in the automotive service industry.
The college’s Diesel Mechanic Technology program offers a two-semester certificate that prepares students to maintain and repair commercial trucks, agricultural tractors, construction equipment and other diesel-powered machinery. Training covers engines, powertrains, hydraulic systems and other essential components, with instruction aligned with national certification standards.
The center also supports MCC’s broader vision for transportation technology education, including future opportunities in aviation maintenance.
“What we have in this program will make a huge difference for our region,” said Josh Waters, vice president of WATERS International Trucks, Truck and Tractor, spoke at the ceremony.
The project was funded through a combination of state and federal investments, including a $2 million special state appropriation for construction, approximately $615,000 in federal funding for equipment and a $475,000 grant from the Southeast Crescent Regional Commission’s State Economic and Infrastructure Development program. MCC was the only educational institution in Mississippi selected for funding during that grant round.
Through partnerships with nine employers, the center is expected to help address workforce shortages, support job creation and strengthen the region’s transportation industry.
“We’re preparing students to become the very professionals that industry needs,” Dr. Huebner said.
For more information, visit meridiancc.edu.
