Warnock’s visit to Columbus Tech includes message for Washington about GA workers
Sen. Raphael Warnock (D-Ga.) sat at a table Monday with Columbus Technical College students, faculty, and community stakeholders to hear a message he said should resonate in Washington: Georgia’s economic growth depends on whether communities can train enough skilled workers to fill the jobs employers are bringing to the state.
Warnock hosted a roundtable discussion about workforce development at Columbus Tech. The discussion focused on the Pathway to Prosperity Act, a bipartisan workforce development bill he introduced with Sen. Roger Marshall (R-Kan.). The proposal aims to strengthen connections between technical and community colleges and employers, so students can have a stronger pipeline to available jobs post-graduation.
“Hearing from you directly gives me input that I need as I go and fight for this in Washington, D.C.,” Warnock said during the roundtable discussion.
Warnock peppered students and representatives from Pratt & Whitney and Columbus Water Works with questions about how Columbus Tech prepares people for in-demand jobs, how they are paying for their programs, and what barriers stand between students, training and stable careers.
“People are dealing with the everyday struggle of making their lives work, the issue of just being able to afford the basics: groceries, gas, housing and healthcare,” he said. “The question becomes: ‘How, in that environment, do we make sure that folks have a path?’”
His visit comes as Georgia continues to attract billions of dollars in manufacturing and industrial investment, creating a growing demand for workers in skilled trades and technical fields.
Companies like Kia, Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America, Rivian, Archer Aviation and SK Battery America have made significant investments to expand their operations throughout the state, bringing thousands of jobs in advanced manufacturing, aerospace and clean energy.
Columbus has experienced that growth firsthand. Companies like Pratt & Whitney, JS Link and HK USA have announced local expansion plans in recent months, increasing demand for machinists, welders, industrial maintenance workers and other skilled workers. That demand is what makes institutions like Columbus Technical College crucial.
Employers participating in the roundtable discussion emphasized the importance of strengthening the workforce pipeline from technical colleges. Aric Jackson, director of compliance at Columbus Water Works, outlined a critical gap.
“What we’re seeing is, usually you’ve got kids coming out of high school that don’t have any skill sets; or you’ve got people that have the privilege to go to a four-year college and come out with that skill set,” Jackson said. “The middle ground is what your bill is trying to cover, what our industry specifically needs. It’s what Columbus Tech is working with us to provide.”
The Pathway to Prosperity Act would expand federal support for partnerships between community and technical colleges and local employers. The proposal aims to help schools align training with industry needs, create more work-based learning opportunities and better connect students with high-demand careers.
Columbus Technical College President Martha Ann Todd said those partnerships already shape how the college develops its curriculum. Every academic program has an industry advisory council comprising local employers, she said.
“Our promise to the community that we serve is that we’re going to provide the workforce as needed,” Todd said. “We do that by making sure our students are able to get the training they need so they can get a job, build a career and support their family.”
Todd said the college has a 100% job placement rate, with graduates moving directly into careers across the region’s manufacturing, healthcare, public safety and skilled trades industries.
This story was originally published July 7, 2026 at 2:25 PM.