REGIONAL NEWS | McMinnville — According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics robotics is a growing field. Thanks to Motlow’s Automation and Robotics Training Center (ARTC) in McMinnville job seekers can learn high-wage skills in just four days. It’s that kind of community and workforce impact that’s won them a 2019 National Association of Developmental Organizations (NADO) Impact Award from its support of regional workforce development.

According to the college, ARTC classes and outreach efforts also include teaching and training in coding and other STEM programs. The ARTC serves as the lab site for Motlow’s associate of applied sciences degree. The college seated its first cohort of degree-seeking students this fall. The facility was completed ahead of schedule, began teaching classes within two weeks of opening, and is now poised to provide instruction to national clients.

“We should all pause and reflect on the energy and power of this collaborative effort. This is not an award for an idea, or a plan, or a building. This is an award for impact, and the impact it recognizes is the result of model public-private partnerships collaborating to achieve shared missions. That’s a big deal. It endorses our regional partnership as a national model. A lot of people deserve hugs and handshakes for this award. We should all be eating cake over this piece of paper,” said Terri Bryson, vice president of external affairs at Motlow who, with Larry Flatt, Motlow executive director of the robotics center, led the development and launch of the ARTC.

­The NADO Impact Awards program honors NADO members for their creative approaches to advancing regional community and economic development and improved quality of life.  The projects recognized by NADO have made significant impact on specific regions and demonstrate the diversity of services and program delivery provided by regional development organizations across the country.

“With the completion of the ARTC facility, we are now offering courses that are essential to the needs of local industries that utilize robots,” said Flatt. “We are proud to have received this award in recognition of our hard work and dedication to meeting the region’s robotics workforce need.”

The ARTC, celebrated at a grand opening event earlier this year, is located adjacent to the Motlow McMinnville campus on 4.5 acres of land donated by the Warren County Commission. The facility is the first of its kind in Tennessee and is designed to support the specialized needs of business and industry, providing training for the top three robot manufacturers in the country: ABB, FANUC, and Yaskawa Motoman. •

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