Georgia Northwestern Technical College faculty and staff have nominated six instructors for the 2026 Rick Perkins Award of Excellence in Technical Instruction, honoring the Technical College System of Georgia’s top educators for innovation and leadership.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College has selected three students as its finalists for the 2026 Georgia Occupational Award of Leadership (GOAL), according to GOAL program coordinator Trish Wiggins. The finalists are Brittney Elrod of Ringgold (Business Management, Catoosa County Campus, nominated by Dr. Dwight Watt), Latasha Fluker of Rome (Marketing Management, Floyd County Campus, nominated by Mark Upton), and Noelia Sargento of Rossville (Business Management, Walker County Campus, nominated by Tracy Gentry).
Governor Brian Kemp used his final State of the State address last week to roll out his recommendations for Georgia’s amended Fiscal Year 2026 budget and the Fiscal Year 2027 budget, calling for major investments aimed at affordability, student opportunity, workforce development, and public higher education.
Gov. Brian Kemp delivered his final State of the State address this week at the Georgia Capitol, using the annual speech to lay out what he wants lawmakers to prioritize as he enters the home stretch of his second term. In front of a joint session of the General Assembly, Kemp struck an upbeat tone about Georgia’s economy and growth, while arguing the next set of decisions should center on affordability for families, long-term competitiveness for the state, and keeping Georgia “open for business” in a changing national landscape.
Governor Brian Kemp delivered the closing address at the Georgia Chamber of Commerce’s annual Eggs & Issues event earlier this week, outlining what he described as his top legislative and budget priorities for the 2026 General Assembly session.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College is looking for career-minded applicants ready to take the next step with one of the largest technical colleges in the state. With more than 600 employees across six campuses, GNTC says it’s seeking talented professionals who want more than a job — they want a long-term career serving students, local industries, and communities across Northwest Georgia.
In Chattooga County and across rural Northwest Georgia, the conversation about life after high school is changing — not because college suddenly got easier, but because more families are weighing the rising cost of a traditional four-year degree against the practical need for training that leads directly to a paycheck.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College’s Aviation Maintenance Technology program has added another aircraft for student training, thanks to a donation of a Cessna 401A from a private individual in Dalton.
Program director Zac Fager says it’s the fourth 400-series Cessna now owned by GNTC and will be used in all areas of hands-on instruction. The aircraft had been stored in a hangar at Dalton Municipal Airport before being moved to GNTC’s Aviation Training Center, where it was reassembled.
GNTC President Dr. Heidi Popham says the gift will help train the skilled professionals the aviation industry needs.
Fager says the timing is critical, because students are constantly disassembling, inspecting, and repairing aircraft components—and having additional aircraft helps ensure graduates gain the Airframe and Powerplant experience needed to be workforce-ready.
Georgia’s biggest skilled-trades event—the Construction Ready CareerExpo & SkillsUSA Georgia State Championships—returns to the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta on February 19–20, 2026, celebrating its 20th anniversary.
Mohawk Industries is holding a hiring event happening today (Thursday, January 8) for job opportunities at its Summerville manufacturing facility. The event runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Trion Recreation Department, located at 90 Dalton Street.
