#WorkforceDevelopment | AM 1180 Radio

April 23, 2026

GNTC Names Patty Hart Vice President of Economic Development

Local News, Local News Items #BusinessGrowth, #EconomicDevelopment, #EducationAndTraining, #GeorgiaNorthwesternTechnicalCollege, #GeorgiaQuickStart, #GNTC, #northwestgeorgia, #PattyHart, #RegionalLeadership, #TechnicalCollege, #WalkerCounty, #WorkforceDevelopment, #wzqznews 0

Georgia Northwestern Technical College has named Patty Hart as its new vice president of Economic Development, placing a longtime leader in a key role supporting workforce training and business growth across northwest Georgia.

April 18, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

Georgia Labor Force, Employment Reach Record Highs In February

Local News, Local News Items #EconomicUpdate, #EmploymentRecord, #GeorgiaBusiness, #GeorgiaEconomy, #GeorgiaJobs, #GeorgiaLabor, #HealthcareJobs, #JobGrowth, #JobMarket, #LaborForce, #LaborReport, #StateEconomy, #UnemploymentRate, #WorkforceDevelopment, #wzqznews 0

The Georgia Department of Labor says the state reached new all-time highs in both labor force and employment in February, even as the unemployment rate ticked up slightly and job totals declined for a second straight month.

April 14, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Cisco Networking Academy Honors GNTC’s Dr. Dwight Watt For Instructional Excellence

Local News, Local News Items #AcademicAchievement, #CareerTraining, #CiscoNetworkingAcademy, #ComputerInformationSystems, #CyberSecurity, #DrDwightWatt, #GeorgiaEducation, #GeorgiaNorthwesternTechnicalCollege, #GNTC, #highereducation, #InformationTechnology, #InstructionalExcellence, #Networking, #northwestgeorgia, #StudentSuccess, #TechnicalEducation, #WorkforceDevelopment, #wzqznews 0

The Cisco Networking Academy has honored Dr. Dwight Watt, instructor of Computer Information Systems Technology at Georgia Northwestern Technical College, with its 2025 Instructor Excellence Advanced Level Award for outstanding teaching and student success.

April 14, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

State Senator Highlights Major Literacy Investment Following 2026 Session

Local News, Local News Items #ChuckHufstetler, #EarlyLiteracy, #Education, #EducationFunding, #GeorgiaEconomy, #georgiapolitics, #GeorgiaSchools, #GeorgiaSenate, #K3Education, #LiteracyCoaches, #northwestgeorgia, #PublicEducation, #ReadingMatters, #RomeGA, #SchoolNews, #StudentSuccess, #WorkforceDevelopment, #wzqznews 0

As the Georgia General Assembly wrapped up its 2026 regular session last week, State Senator Chuck Hufstetler of Rome is pointing to early childhood literacy as one of the most important issues addressed by lawmakers.

April 12, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Chattooga County TANF Job Opening Offers Temporary State Work Opportunity

Local News, Local News Items #ApplyNow, #CareerOpportunity, #chattooganews, #CommunityNews, #CountyNews, #CustomerServiceJobs, #DHSGeorgia, #EconomicOpportunity, #EmploymentOpportunity, #EmploymentSupport, #FamilySupportPrograms, #FullTimeJob, #GeorgiaDepartmentOfHumanServices, #GeorgiaEmployment, #GeorgiaJobs, #GovernmentJobs, #HiringInGeorgia, #JobOpening, #JobSeekers, #JobsForFamilies, #JobTraining, #LocalHiring, #LocalNews, #NorthGeorgiaJobs, #northwestgeorgia, #NowHiring, #OfficeJobs, #PublicAssistance, #PublicServiceJobs, #RegionalNews, #RuralGeorgia, #StateJobs, #summervillega, #TANFProgram, #TemporaryJob, #WorkforceDevelopment, #WorkforceNews, #WorkInGeorgia, #wzqznews 0

A job opening in Chattooga County is now being advertised through the Georgia Department of Human Services, but officials say applicants should understand this is not a standard public job posting.

April 10, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

AdventHealth Redmond EMS Launches New Paramedic Training Program

Local News, Local News Items #BreakingNews, #CommunityHealth, #EmergencyMedicalServices, #EMS, #firstresponders, #floydcountyga, #healthcarecareers, #HealthcareTraining, #LocalHealthcare, #MedicalTraining, #northwestgeorgia, #NWGA, #ParamedicProgram, #Paramedics, #RedmondRegional, #RomeGA, #WorkforceDevelopment, #wzqznews, AdventHealth 0

AdventHealth Redmond EMS has launched a new paramedic training program aimed at strengthening emergency medical care across Northwest Georgia.

The program officially began April 8 and includes an inaugural class of 16 certified EMTs who are current AdventHealth team members. The 45-week program is designed to provide advanced clinical training, hands-on experience, and patient-centered emergency care.

Officials say the program will help expand career opportunities for EMS workers while improving response capabilities and patient outcomes in the region. Upon completion of the first cohort, the program will seek full accreditation.

“Launching this program allows our team members to expand their knowledge and skills so they can better serve our community,” said Nina Piatt, EMS captain and program director.

AdventHealth leaders say the initiative is part of a broader effort to invest in workforce development and build a stronger emergency response system by training paramedics locally.

The program is currently offered exclusively to AdventHealth EMTs at a reduced cost compared to traditional training programs.

Hospital officials say graduates will be equipped to deliver advanced, life-saving care and help ensure high-quality treatment for patients during critical emergencies.

April 10, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

GNTC Foundation Awards Over $48,000 in Spring Scholarships

Local News, Local News Items #CalhounGA, #CatoosaCountyGA, #chattoogacounty, #CollegeFunding, #CommunitySupport, #DadeCountyGA, #DaltonGA, #EducationNews, #floydcountyga, #GeorgiaNorthwesternTechnicalCollege, #GNTC, #GordonCountyGA, #highereducation, #murraycountyga, #NWGAEducation, #RomeGA, #Scholarships, #SpringSemester, #StudentSuccess, #summervillega, #TechnicalEducation, #trionga, #WalkerCountyGA, #WhitfieldCountyGA, #WorkforceDevelopment, #wzqznews, LocalStudents 0

The Georgia Northwestern Technical College Foundation has awarded $48,350 in scholarships and grants to 56 students for the Spring 2026 semester, helping offset the cost of tuition and educational expenses across multiple programs.

April 9, 2026

by Jimmy Holbrook

GNTC Students Awarded Governor Nathan Deal Technical Education Scholarship

Local News, Local News Items #AutomationTechnology, #CareerTraining, #CarpetAndRugInstitute, #DaltonGA, #EducationNews, #GeorgiaEducation, #GeorgiaNorthwesternTechnicalCollege, #GNTC, #ManufacturingCareers, #NathanDealScholarship, #northwestgeorgia, #PrecisionMachining, #ScholarshipWinners, #StudentAchievement, #TechnicalEducation, #WeldingTechnology, #WhitfieldMurrayCampus, #WorkforceDevelopment, #wzqznews, LocalStudents 0

Four Georgia Northwestern Technical College students have been recognized for their academic achievement, earning the prestigious Governor Nathan Deal Technical Education Scholarship.

April 1, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Sixteen Graduate From GNTC Electrical Lineworker Program In Rockmart

Local News, Local News Items #CareerTraining, #EconomicDevelopment, #ElectricalLineworker, #GeorgiaNorthwesternTechnicalCollege, #GeorgiaStudents, #GNTC, #GraduationNews, #LineworkerProgram, #northwestgeorgia, #PolkCountyGA, #RockmartGA, #TechnicalEducation, #WorkforceDevelopment, #wzqznews 0

Graduates from GNTC’s Electrical Lineworker program for spring 2026 are (from left, front row) Yoni Bautista, Widman Diaz, Jose Pacheco, Javier Plaza, Miguel Rebolloso, Eric Salazar, Dontarious Thompson, Cayden Watson; (back row) Trey Scales, Evan Hayes, David Postell, Miguel Martinez, Luis Perez, Christian Rodriguez, Omar Munguia and Gage McWhorter.

Sixteen students graduated on Wednesday, March 25, from Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s Electrical Lineworker program during a ceremony held at GNTC’s Polk County Campus in Rockmart.

March 26, 2026

by WZQZ NEWS

Georgia DOE Expands Career Pathway Options To Match High-Demand Jobs

Local News, Local News Items #CareerEducation, #CareerPathways, #CollegeAndCareerReady, #ConstructionForGeometry, #CTAE, #EducationUpdate, #FutureWorkforce, #GeorgiaDOE, #GeorgiaEducation, #GeorgiaSchools, #GeorgiaStudents, #HighDemandCareers, #PublicEducation, #StudentSuccess, #TopStateForTalent, #WorkforceDevelopment, #WorkforceReadiness, #wzqznews 0

The Georgia Department of Education is modernizing its Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education (CTAE) structure, reducing the number of career clusters from 17 to 14 to better align with today’s workforce needs.

State leaders say the updated framework keeps all 152 state-approved pathways in place while improving connections between high school coursework, college programs, and in-demand careers across Georgia.

Among the key changes is a stronger focus on high-demand industries to help build a more prepared workforce. The state is also introducing the “Construction for Geometry” option starting in the 2025–2026 school year, allowing students to earn math credit through the Carpentry Pathway.

Officials say the updates are part of Georgia’s “Top State for Talent” initiative, aimed at ensuring students graduate ready for enrollment, employment, enlistment, or entrepreneurship.