History of Georgia Northwestern Technical College
In 2008, the State Board of Technical and Adult Education approved the merger of Coosa Valley Technical College and Northwestern Technical College which became effective July 1, 2009. Individually, the two colleges have long, meaningful histories. The following histories of the two technical colleges demonstrate the impact of the colleges and how important training and educational opportunities have been and will continue to be to the citizens of northwest Georgia.
Coosa Valley Technical College was established in 1962 in the city of Rome, Floyd County, Georgia. In 1989, the Adult Education program was added. The Gordon County Campus was added in Calhoun, Georgia in 1997. The Polk County Campus, located in Rockmart, was added in 1998. In 2008, the Aviation Training Center at the Richard B. Russell Regional Airport in Rome was added. In December 2006, Coosa Valley Technical College became accredited through the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC).
Northwestern Technical College was established off Highway 27 in Walker County, Georgia, in 1964. In 1989, the Adult Education program was added. The Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges initially accredited Northwestern Technical College in 1997; reaffirmation occurred in 2002.
Georgia Northwestern Technical College
Georgia Northwestern continued to expand after the merger. GNTC opened the Woodlee Culinary Arts Center in 2010.
In 2011, the Technical College System of Georgia announced Murray and Whitfield counties would become part of the GNTC service area. The Whitfield Murray Campus, located in Dalton, began instruction fall 2011. The Adult Education program for these counties was awarded to GNTC in 2014.
In January 2011, GNTC held a groundbreaking ceremony for a new 46,000 square foot Administration and Classroom Building on the Gordon County Campus.
In June 2013, the State Properties Commission approved the purchase of land on Alabama Highway/Georgia 151 and Holcomb Road for the construction of the GNTC Catoosa County Campus. Instruction is scheduled to begin in 2016.
During September 2019, GNTC celebrated the completion of a major campus addition with a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for the new 80,000 square foot administrative and classroom facility located at the Whitfield Murray Campus.
Today, Georgia Northwestern Technical College serves the nine counties of Catoosa, Chattooga, Dade, Floyd, Gordon, Murray, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield. GNTC is the largest college in northwest Georgia and is one of the largest technical colleges in the state of Georgia with six campus locations in Catoosa, Floyd, Gordon, Polk, Walker, and Whitfield counties.
With its history of continued growth, close relationship to the community, and customized training to meet the needs of local business and industry, GNTC will continue to grow and provide leadership in workforce development in northwest Georgia.