HGTC History

The Heart of Georgia Technical College is a state-of-the-art educational facility and is the result of efforts beginning in 1967.   Based upon a study prepared in 1967 and additional studies in 1980, a grant was approved for program development and pre-architectural drawings.   The establishment of the technical school (then institute, now college) was approved by the governor in 1980.   Funds were allocated by the General Assembly in 1982 to construct the 74,000 square foot structure on 18 acres of land adjacent to the West Laurens High School complex.   The official ground breaking ceremony was held on November 11, 1982.   The Director was hired on July 1, 1983, and the remainder of the initial staff was on board by January 1, 1984.   Classes began March 26, 1984, and the school graduated its first students at the end of the winter quarter 1985. The director's title was then changed to president.

An off-campus division for aircraft sheet metal technology in Eastman was opened in late 1987.   An addition to the Dublin facility for adult education classes was completed in December 1990.   A new allied health building opened in Dublin in October 1995.   A new Eastman Center was completed in December 1995, and began accepting students in January 1996.  In January 2000, a state-of-the-art DuBose Porter Business and Industry Training Center began operations.  The change in title from institute to college was made official in a special ceremony in October 2000.   In July, 2001 the Eastman Center became the Georgia Aviation Technical College , the 34th college in the Technical College System of Georgia.   With the re-alignment of the service delivery areas, the Telfair County Instructional Center was acquired in July 2001.  In July 2003, the College purchased an additional 50 acres of land for future expansion of the main campus.  In 2005, the name of the Telfair County Instructional Center was changed to Little Ocmulgee Instructional Center.

Heart of Georgia Tech currently offers nine associate of applied science degrees and 25 diploma programs with 58 degree and diploma program options, and 47 technical certificates of credit.

Heart of Georgia Technical College has provided over 20 years of service to the communities located in Laurens, Telfair, Dodge, Wheeler, Bleckley and Wilkinson counties.    The College continues to strive to meet the economic development and training needs of our citizens and employers.