Hamilton County Schools (HCS), the Hamilton County Mayor’s Office, and Volkswagen Group of America (Volkswagen) announced today a multimillion-dollar partnership to support the new Franklin-Roberts Future Ready Center set to open in the 2026-2027 school year. The investment will support the development and operations of a new VW Engineering Preparatory Program, which will be housed at the center.
“I’m grateful and excited to have Volkswagen on board as our official first partner for Franklin-Roberts,” said Dr. Justin Robertson, Hamilton County Schools Superintendent. “As a district, it is vital that we continue to provide intentional opportunities for our students to access career education and hands-on learning. As we continue to identify the right partners for this Future Ready Center, this partnership is an example of what we want for students: access to real-world connections, community partnerships, and entry points to thriving careers.”
The VW Engineering Preparatory Program will provide students with access to early engineering education and create an early pathway for students to explore engineering concepts and technical skills beginning in their freshman year of high school.
“The introduction of the Volkswagen Engineering Preparatory Academy at the Franklin-Roberts Future Ready Center is a bold step toward building a workforce that's not only skilled, but also emotionally connected to our company and our community,”
said Henning Habicht, Volkswagen Group of America, Head of Chattanooga Operations.“It’s a reflection of what’s possible when industry, education, and local government come together with a shared purpose, and we look forward to working hand-in-hand with educators, families, and leaders to make this vision a reality.”
Through this partnership, HCS and Volkswagen will equip students interested in engineering with the opportunity to engage with technical skills early in their education through hands-on learning and real-world applications. Early career education builds student confidence in their knowledge and allows students to experience a smooth transition to a college program after graduation.
“Expanding career and technical education is the most important investment we can make in order to position Hamilton County students for future success,” said Hamilton County Mayor Weston Wamp. “Volkswagen stepping up as the first corporate partner at Franklin-Roberts demonstrates a commitment to our people, our workforce, and our economy that I hope other employers will emulate.”
The Franklin-Roberts Future Ready Center is expected to serve students at The Howard School, Signal Mountain Middle High, Red Bank High, Lookout Valley Middle High, Brainerd High, East Ridge, and Chattanooga School for the Arts and Sciences. Through this expansion,in combination with the existing Harrison Bay and North River Future Ready Centers, every high school student in Hamilton County will have direct access to CTE programming at a Future Ready Center.
