In a ceremony that marks a transformation in workforce development in southeast Georgia, Ogeechee Technical College (OTC) broke ground on the nearly 40,000 square foot Georgia Industrial Systems and Robotics Training Center (GISRTC) today on the corner of AJ Riggs Road and Hwy 301 South.

“The vision for the Georgia Industrial Systems and Robotics Training facility was inspired by the sheer amount of demand for training in this region in the area of industrial systems and robotics, and the need to equip the regions workforce with the skills and expertise necessary to maximize the opportunities that now surround us,” said OTC President, Lori Durden.

The GISRTC will more than double the current training capacity of Ogeechee Tech to 460,000 hours annually. Additionally, in a study conducted by Georgia Southern University’s Center for Business Analytics and Economic Research, within a year of opening, it is projected that the center will yield an economic output of $8.98 million growing to $15.68 million in FY2033.

The $23 million facility which will house 12 industrial labs, classrooms, computer labs, and meeting spaces is designed to host innovative, sophisticated, state-of-the-art programs focusing on preparing its trainees for the demands of the workforce at present and in the future.

“When approached with the initial pitch for this project it was an easy yes for us,” said Benjy Thompson, CEO of the Development Authority of Bulloch County. “Our community and our region is growing and we need a larger workforce to support the growth. OTC has been a primary source of skilled labor for our manufacturers, and others, and will continue to serve that role. Additionally, OTC has an outstanding reputation as an entrepreneurial college with forward thinking and customer-oriented leadership.”

The GISRTC is the result of a unique partnership between Ogeechee Tech, Bulloch County, and the Development Authority of Bulloch County that was supported by the region’s local legislative delegation, in addition to other development authorities within the region. The Bulloch County Board of County Commissioners provided funding for the initial facility design and economic impact study, and the Development Authority of Bulloch County deeded the land for the Center to the Technical College System of Georgia.

As a training facility with a regional impact, the GISRTC has already created a partnership between Ogeechee Technical College and its Technical College System neighbor Southeastern Technical College, and is slated to open in 2026.