Rural Development Partners (RDP) and AriensCo (Fayetteville, TN) awarded a matching funds grant of $150,000 to spur workforce development initiatives in Lincoln County, Tennessee. $70,000 was allocated toward the implementation of a local welding program through RDP’s “Community Investment Program”.
Welder Demand
Lincoln County educators recognized a strong need for welders to fill the demand for local industry. Lincoln County High School (LCHS) offered a welding program, but space was limited for student participation. Fayetteville High School (FHS) lacked the necessary space. As is common in rural communities, specialized training is not always easily accessible. For Fayetteville, the nearest TCAT (Tennessee College of Applied Technology; Shelbyville) welding lab was 30 miles away. In 2023, AriensCo expanded their operation to Fayetteville. Recognizing the need for welder training, Ariens donated 6,000 SF of space to house a TCAT welding lab within their facility located next door to Fayetteville High School, and within 2.5 miles of Lincoln County High School.
Fayetteville Welding Program
The amenities are complete, classes are underway, and the community is excited about the opportunities this has created for students to acquire the skills needed for a successful career in welding. The lab houses 20 welding stations, a classroom, instructors office, storage space, parking, lounge, and infrastructure. This grateful community has taken additional steps to stabilize the program long-term… FHS committed to fund the equipment and instructor salary for one year, an Innovative School Models Grant committed to funding the consumables, and TCAT Shelbyville will vet instructors, provide curriculum, institutional support, and sustain the funding after the first year. The remaining grant funds allocated toward the welding program will provide tool scholarships for dual enrolled students.
Welding Students Hunter Pitts and Will Coble
Student Testimonies
Hunter Pitts, Student (pictured) – “The Ariens welding program has been beneficial to my classmates and I in multiple ways. I started with very little experience in welding, but have gained valuable skills that I can use in the workforce. I was able to complete two trimesters through the dual enrollment program while attending high school, and am working on my third trimester now.”
Will Coble, Student (pictured) – “This program has been an enjoyable thing to do, it teaches students how to weld and other fundamentals related to welding. It also preps young adults for the real-life workforce making sure you’re in class on time. This has been a work in progress for me and my classmates. I came in to this program with little to no experience in welding, but over time have gained more knowledge. I hope to use the skills I’ve gained in the workforce after graduating from TCAT. – We really appreciate Ariens letting us come here. If it wasn’t for them, we’d have a 45 minute drive to the next closest campus.”
Rural Development Partners
Rural Development Partners (RDP) utilizes the NMTC Program to help organizations throughout the nation relocate and expand operations to underserved rural communities. RDP investments help create jobs, economic growth, training opportunities, and food security for rural America by partnering with organizations that take action to invest in and support their local communities. Learn more about Rural Development Partners or the NMTC program by visiting our website or social media platforms at FaceBook, LinkedIn, or YouTube.
