Cocke County Innovation Center Gets Boost In Funds

The Cocke County Innovation Center is getting an infusion of cash. House Majority Caucus Chairman, Representative Jeremy Faison, recently secured $500,000 in state funding for the Cocke County School District. That money is for the Innovation Center which opened its doors in January. The Cocke County Innovation Center allows students to learn more about trade careers, including hospitality and tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, information technology, health care, culinary arts and criminal justice. It’s done through hands-on experience and technical skills training.

Research has shown that students involved in CTE or career and technical education, have higher academic achievement and are more likely to be employed after high school. Rep. Faison says he has toured the Innovation Center and says it’s easy to see why it’s a weekly highlight for so many students, including his own son.

The $500,000 for the Innovation Center was included in the Governor Bill Lee’s budget that was passed by the General Assembly back in April. Jeremy Faison’s office says republicans in the state legislature have increased annual state funding for CTE programs by 240% since 2012.