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Midlands/MTC president outlines workforce training expansion, mechatronics and a proposed manufacturing boot camp

City of Columbia — Town & Gown Committee · January 23, 2026
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Summary

Greg Lovell, describing Midlands Technical College’s 2025 priorities, said MTC surpassed 10,000 students in academic programs, is expanding allied‑health and veterans transition programs, plans to scale mechatronics training tied to Scout Motors, and proposes a Midlands Manufacturing Institute boot camp to prepare local workers for incoming manufacturing jobs.

Greg Lovell, identified in the meeting as the president of Midlands Technical College (MTC), told the Town & Gown Committee that 2025 has been a strong year for the college, highlighting that the institution recently served record numbers in academic and continuing education programs. He said MTC is focusing on workforce‑aligned expansions: a food pantry and support for students with food insecurity, a partnership with Fort Jackson to help combat medics transition to civilian paramedic certifications (shortening training time by months), and expansions in allied health programs such as radiologic technology and surgical technology.

Lovell emphasized the skills gap in trades and technical fields and said MTC is at capacity in many skilled‑trades programs. He noted a large regional employer, Scout Motors, will increase local demand for technicians and other trades and that MTC intends to scale mechatronics and related offerings to meet that demand. "Scout Motors is gonna be a sea change in this community," Lovell said, framing the need to align training capacity with regional industrial growth.

Lovell described plans for a Midlands Manufacturing Institute: a proposed six‑to‑eight‑week boot camp to prepare underserved residents for entry‑level manufacturing jobs. He said the college has worked on strategic planning to double or triple capacity for key programs and is partnering with local health providers to expand allied‑health program capacity.

Lovell closed by noting the college’s community focus and invited questions; the committee moved into closing remarks and scheduled the next meeting date.