South Georgia Technical College service area expanded to include Taylor County

The Technical College System of Georgia added Taylor County to the South Georgia Technical College service delivery area recently. South Georgia Tech currently offers over 200 associate degree, diploma, and technical certificate of credit programs as well as adult education services to the citizens of Sumter, Crisp, Schley, Macon, Marion, and Webster Counties. Now those same services are also being offered to the residents of Taylor County. “This is a tremendous opportunity for South Georgia Technical College and the people of Taylor County,” said South Georgia Technical College President Dr. John Watford. “We pledge to provide the citizens of Taylor County with the same great educational and economic development services that we have been providing to our other six counties for nearly 70 years.” The Technical College System of Georgia transferred Taylor County to the South Georgia Technical College service delivery area since South Georgia Tech serves as the regional partner within the same RESA (Regional Educational Service Area), Regional Commission and local WIOA boards as Taylor County. South Georgia Tech seems to be better suited to coordinate TCSG’s services for Taylor County because of these factors, explained TCSG officials. Geographically, Taylor County has the advantage of bordering four Technical College System of Georgia college service delivery areas, providing a unique opportunity for Taylor County residents to attend TCSG colleges and select programs best suited to their interests. Last year, a total of 172 Taylor County residents attended six TCSG colleges, taking advantage of 46 unique programs. Taylor County has approximately 8,200 individuals within a 380 square mile ratio. It includes the cities of Butler, Reynolds, and the communities of Mauk, Howard, Rupert, and Potterville. It is the third smallest county in South Georgia Tech’s service area in terms of population but is the third largest in terms of square miles. South Georgia Technical College has campuses in Americus and in Crisp County. Sumter County is the largest of the seven counties in both population and size with nearly 33,000 people and 493 square miles. Crisp County is the second largest in population with 23,500 people but it is the third smallest in area with 281 square miles. With the addition of Taylor County, South Georgia Technical College covers nearly 100,000 people in the seven-county service area and over 2,305 square miles. The square mileage is larger than Rhode Island and nearly as large as the state of Delaware. In addition to the seven unique counties within its service area, South Georgia Technical is also able to provide opportunities to the entire state of Georgia and the surrounding southeastern states with its partnership programs with Caterpillar, John Deere, MetroPower, Kauffman Tire, Southern Company and Aviation partners. South Georgia Technical College is one of only two technical colleges in Georgia with on-campus housing. “South Georgia Technical College offers students the complete college experience,” explained President Dr. John Watford. “Students can live on-campus, experience intercollegiate athletics, and be a part of exceptional clubs and organizations. And they can receive an excellence education that prepares students for outstanding careers.” South Georgia Technical College was selected as the third best two-year college in the nation recently in the areas of quality and affordability. It was also singled out as the best two-year college in Georgia twice in 2017 by two different organizations. “We believe that we can provide the individuals of Taylor County with outstanding educational and economic development opportunities just like we have been providing to our partners in Sumter, Schley, Crisp, Macon, Marion, and Webster counties,” said President Watford. “We are excited about this new opportunity and pledge our support to Taylor County.”