Governor Brian Kemp recently visited the Georgia Veterans Education Transition Resource Center (VECTR) to learn about how the Center and Central Georgia Technical College (CGTC) are keeping veterans and active duty personnel on-track amid COVID-19.

Governor Kemp met with College leadership members and toured classroom and lab spaces. Part of his visit included a tour of the Center’s latest addition, two industrial lab spaces attached to the current building’s east-end.

One of the lab spaces houses an Industrial Systems program that in partnership with Frito Lay serves as a pipeline for veterans into careers with the food manufacturer. Frito Lay recently announced a $200 million expansion of its plant in Perry, adding nearly 120 jobs over the next three years.

CGTC leadership and the VECTR Center reaffirmed to Governor Kemp how the operations of the Center have kept moving despite recent public health challenges. Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) Commissioner, Greg Dozier, provided insight to the Systems role in aiding the College to meet the needs of is active duty and veteran students.

During the spring semester, military students enrolled in Welding and HVAC courses were closing in on departure from active-duty. Their training at VECTR was a transitional step to secure employable skills in a high-demand civilian career. That training was put in jeopardy as COVID-19 spread.

Behind the scenes, CGTC leadership and the VECTR Center secured a limited lab waiver approval from TCSG to allow veteran students access to lab resources to continue their training and return promptly to duty stations as requested.

“After continual dialogue on our safety practices and ensuring the safety of the active military members first, some of whom needed to travel out of state or out of country to return to their duty station, the students were approved to stay at VECTR to finish their program,” said, Ret. Col. Patricia Ross, chief operating officer of the VECTR Center

Safety continues to be priority at the Center. Strict social distancing guidelines are in place. Staff ensure single-access point of entry, screen students, faculty and staff for illness, and provide hand sanitizing stations.

Governor Kemp and his delegation were even given branded VECTR Center masks on their visit.

For more information about the VECTR Center visit, www.gavectr.org.