Construction of the new College and Career Institute (CCI) building is about 80 percent complete and should be ready for August school opening, Sullivan spoke to the noon GreyStone Power Luncheon of the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce at the downtown Douglasville Conference Center. Sullivan was joined at the podium by CCI representatives Julian Carter, CEO, and Mindy Johnson, director of high school programs.

CCI is a charter school offering dual enrollment for high school students so they can earn both high school and college credits. It is a joint project of the Douglas County School System, WCTC (soon to be West Georgia Technical College) and the Douglas County Chamber of Commerce and business community.

“The mission of CCI is to ensure a viable 21st Century workforce in Douglas County,” Sullivan said. “The local community has participated in the educational process. We’ll keep the workforce here, keep the taxes in the county and make it attractive for companies to move here.”

He said high school students will come during the day from their traditional high schools and take courses in the CCI building. They will continue to participate in their home high school athletics, extracurricular programs and activities. Some traditional adult WCTC students will also attend the CCI classes.

Funding for the CCI program included $4.5 million from Douglas County School System, $5 million from the Georgia Technical College System, $1.6 million from WCTC for technical equipment and $1.2 million from Douglas County School System for additional equipment.

“Only 20 percent of jobs in the next 20 years will require a bachelor’s degree,” Sullivan said. “When our graduates step out into the workplace, many will make $60,000 to start and HOPE (lottery scholarships) will have paid for it all.”

He said new course offerings CCI will bring include auto technician, CAD (computer assisted drafting), computer information systems, cosmetology, dental assisting, early childhood, welding, graphic arts, healthcare science, HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning), law enforcement, patient care assisting, patient care technology, pharmacy assistant and video production.

Carter said CCI will also teach work ethics to the students.

“They will learn how to work, how to dress and how to act on a job,” he said.

To enroll in CCI, high school students must be a junior or senior in good standing, at least 16 years old, complete a college application, have permission of parent or guardian, acceptable scores on SAT or ACT tests and complete a dual enrollment form.

Carter said the community can help CCI with scholarships, equipment donations, internships, speakers bureau, advisory committee and volunteering.

Carter gave a special thanks to State Rep. Bill Hembree (R-Winston), chairman of the House Higher Education Committee, who Carter said got behind the CCI program and made it happen.

After Sullivan and Carter spoke, Johnson fielded specific questions on the CCI program from the audience.