Midlands Technical College reports enrollment gains, launches Ready‑Set‑Hired workforce pilot with Michelin

Midlands Technical College President Greg Little briefed council on enrollment and workforce initiatives, saying fall enrollment topped 10,000 for the first time since 2017 and spring enrollment exceeded 9,300. Little said summer course participation is up more than 21% and programs in skilled trades, health care and advanced manufacturing are near capacity.

Little described a new Ready‑Set‑Hired pilot with Michelin and the Columbia Urban League intended to build a pipeline for entry‑level manufacturing jobs; the pilot begins as a regional consortium and will expand after the initial run. "We're gonna be running that pilot starting at the end of this month," Little said, adding the effort will scale as regional manufacturers participate.

The college reported workforce successes including the largest EMT program in the state and a first‑of‑its‑kind program at Fort Jackson to convert combat medics for paramedic certification. Little also highlighted student supports such as a Maverick Market to address food insecurity and a planned technical‑college life program for students with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Little said the college requests operating, capital and debt‑service millage in keeping with past submissions; staff clarified how combined capital and debt service are shown on budget pages and the auditor confirmed millage line items. The college did not present additional budget detail beyond its slides.

What happens next: staff will include the college's millage requests in the motions list and council will consider them during the motion period and subsequent readings.