(Story courtesy Augusta Technical College)
Augusta Technical College has been awarded a $6,808,307 grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA) of the U.S. Department of Commerce to support completion of the Jim Hudson Automotive Institute, a transformational workforce development project located at 1122 Walton Way, the former Johnson Cadillac Dealership.
The federal investment represents a major milestone in Augusta Tech’s efforts to expand high-demand technical training and strengthen the region’s talent pipeline, The renovated facility will serve as a state-of-the-art automotive workforce training center, designed to prepare students for careers in automotive maintenance technology, including internal combustion, electric, hybrid, and diesel engines.
“This grant is a powerful investment in Augusta’s economic future,” said Dr. Kendricks D. Hooker, President of Augusta Technical College. “The Jim Hudson Automotive Institute will directly address critical workforce shortages while creating pathways to high-wage, in-demand careers for our students. By transforming a legacy automotive site into a modern training facility, we are aligning education, industry, and economic development in a way that delivers real value to employers and opportunity to our community.”
Located on a 6.4-acre site in a historic transportation corridor, the approximately 33,000-square-foot facility will occupy roughly half of the existing building. The Institute will expand Augusta Tech’s automotive training footprint and serve hundreds of credit and non-credit students annually. It is designed to support dealership operations, fleet maintenance, and emerging vehicle technologies, while providing hands-on, industry-aligned instruction that responds to both regional and national labor market demand.
The project has drawn strong public and private support, including early philanthropic investments from community and industry partners. Regional economic leaders have emphasized the Institute’s role in meeting persistent talent shortages, supporting employer competitiveness, and repurposing existing commercial infrastructure for lasting community impact.
The EDA grant will accelerate completion of the Institute and help ensure the facility opens as a highly visible, employer-connected workforce asset for the Augusta region.
In addition to the Jim Hudson Automotive Institute, the Augusta Tech Foundation continues to raise funds to support further development at 1122 Walton Way as well as at The Patch, Augusta Tech’s emerging workforce campus adjacent to the Augusta Municipal Golf Course. These initiatives extend the College’s commitment to building innovative, place-based workforce infrastructure that supports students, employers, and long-term economic mobility across the community.
“The Jim Hudson Automotive Institute, The Agronomy Center at The Patch Project, and student scholarships represent the Augusta Tech Foundation’s highest philanthropic priorities,” said Foundation Chair Kerry Bridges, Region Executive at Georgia Power. “We are deeply grateful to the donors whose generosity is making these investments possible. Their support is not only strengthening workforce development and economic growth across the CSRA, but also advancing the well-being of our community by creating pathways to education, career stability, and long-term opportunity.”
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