Greenville County Schools plans to expand its welding program through a new partnership with Greenville Technical College.
The two educational institutions signed an agreement on June 4, allowing the school district to use welding space at the college’s Brashier Campus in Simpsonville. The space formerly housed Greenville Tech’s welding program. It will be used by the school district’s Golden Strip Career Center starting the 2026-27 school year.
High school students will be able to complete two years of welding classes on the Brashier Campus with access to hands-on class activities at Greenville Tech’s new Center for Welding and Automation Excellence. The college’s welding program will move into the new 44,000-square-foot facility in August.
“By partnering with the district to use our former welding space, we expand access to welding education and give students a seamless way to follow pathways that advance their professional credentials and earnings,” said Larry Miller, president of Greenville Technical College.
An average of 300 students apply for the school district’s welding program each year. GCS currently has 100 welding booths across its four career centers. Greenville Tech’s former welding space will provide 120 additional booths, plus the 300 booths created by the new Center for Welding and Automation Excellence.
This partnership represents a 350% increase in the school district’s welding program capacity to help address the ongoing workforce shortage of welding technicians. According to GCS, there are currently 400,000 welding job openings nationwide.
“By expanding access to welding education at a time when skilled trades are critically important to our economy, we are creating more opportunities for students to graduate with valuable industry credentials, college credit and clear pathways to high-demand, high-wage careers,” said Superintendent Burke Royster.
In April, GCS Board of Trustees authorized the transfer of $455,000 from the district’s general fund for one-time facility upgrades and five-year operating costs to use Greenville Tech’s welding space. The board also authorized the lease agreement for the space at its regular meeting on May 26.
Students in 10th through 12th grade at any of the district’s 15 high schools are eligible to take the new welding course at Greenville Tech’s Brashier Campus. One morning and one afternoon course will be available, serving 20 students in each session.
