South Central Human Resource Agency was joined by local city and county leadership as well as representatives from the State Development District and Workforce Board to cut the ribbon on the new American Job Center building in Tullahoma.  It was a beautiful day for the event and we welcomed approximately 50 people from the county to join us.  We were fortunate to have a number of people in attendance to explain the importance of the site to the Coffee County community in their personal opinion.  Wendy Jones from the South Central Tennessee Development District and Keith Durham from the Workforce Board both spoke of the amount of work that was put in to get to this point as well as the positive impact they saw this site and program in general having on the county.  Coffee County Mayor Gary Cordell welcomed everyone to the county and said that he looked forward to the program being a positive asset to the community and the citizens.  Tisha Fitz from the Tullahoma Area Chamber of Commerce then officially welcomed the program and building to Coffee County and Mayor Cordell cut the ribbon.  Lincoln County Mayor and SCHRA Board President, Bill Newman, on behalf of SCHRA, welcomed everyone inside to tour the facility and enjoy refreshments after the ribbon cutting.

The Coffee County AJC site is one of the most active sites in the SCHRA region.  There have been just under 7,000 people come through the doors of the center during the 2018-2019 fiscal year.  When clients enter the building they will experience a welcoming, clean and efficient site ready to assist in their job search.  There are multiple computer stations available to further sort through the many different areas that can be of service in their job hunt.  In addition, Jeanine Cooper and Jola Boyd are available to assist them as well to ensure that all avenues are explored.  We look forward to the site and the program continuing to help the citizens of Coffee County further their employment searches and training opportunities.

November roared in with frigid temperatures, but they were not cold enough to stop SCHRA from breaking ground on what will be the new Bedford County Early Head Start site in Shelbyville.  Ron and his crew spent many hours prepping the area and getting it ready for tear down.  When everyone showed up on Friday, November 1^st, they were greeted with a tract hoe ready to go to work.  Before the demolition started, Paul Rosson, Executive Director said a few words about what the new building would do for the community as well as explaining that the new building will be almost twice as big as the old building, have two new playgrounds and additional parking.  He also thanked Shelbyville Mayor, Wallace Cartwright for all of his help in procuring the site for the building as well as for his support for the program in general.  State Representative Pat Marsh, Mayor Cartwright and Bedford County Mayor Chad Graham all took their turn helping to start the tear down, handling the tract hoe like pros. 

This building was originally a Head Start site.  Due to dwindling program numbers in the County, the site was shut down at the end of the 2017 school year and the children that remained were moved to one of the other three centers in Bedford County.  Laurie and here entire staff are thrilled to have the opportunity to have this new Early Head Start site and have been working hard to bring this project to life.  The plan is to be ready to welcome the children and moms into the new site in time for the start of the 2020 school year.  They are also hoping to expand with an additional Early classroom as well as a Head Start classroom.

Head Start Main Office Staff joined by State Representative Pat Marsh, County Mayor Chad Graham, Shelbyville Mayor Wallace Cartwright and Ron Teeples and his amazing crew before the demolition begins.

 

                                                 

Shelbyville Mayor Wallace Cartwright, State Representative Pat Marsh and County                                                                           DEMOLITION BEGINS!

Mayor Chad Graham prior to their turns in the tract hoe to start the demolition.

 

 

The South Central Human Resource Agency held a grand re-opening for the South Lawrence Head Start building on Thursday, October 24^th.  State Representative Clay Doggett, County Executive T.R. Williams and SCHRA Board Member and County Commissioner Bert Spearman all entertained the children prior to the ceremony with book readings.  The South Lawrence Head Start building was previously home to the Iron City United Methodist Church which closed in June 1996.  The church allowed South Central Human Resource Agency and Head Start to lease the building beginning in June 2001.  On May 17, 2009, the Trustees of Iron City United Methodist Church deeded the building to the South Central Human Resource Agency Head Start Program.  There have been numerous renovations and improvements to the building that facilitate the continued support of the children and families in South Lawrence and Iron City.  The grand re-opening was to celebrate the new roof that was recently put on the building.  County Executive T.R. Williams read a proclamation for the re-opening reasserting the County’s support for the Head Start program and the families which it serves.  SCHRA Deputy Director Sara Brown was also in attendance for the grand re-opening and thanked the County for their continued support for the facility, the families and the children.

South Lawrence Head Start at Proclamation and Grand Re-Opening ceremony joined by State Representative Clay Doggett, Sara Brown, SCHRA Deputy Director, Lawrence County Executive T.R. Williams and Lawrence County Commissioner and SCHRA Board Member Bert Spearman

Books were read to the children prior to the ceremony by (photos left to right) Lawrence County Executive T.R. Williams, State Representative Clay Doggett and Lawrence County Commissioner and SCHRA Board Member Bert Spearman