Oct. 26, 2025 9:30a
(WGTD)---Gateway Technical College may expand a program that’s designed to lead to employment at data centers like the one Microsoft is developing in Mt. Pleasant.
At the same time, the school is just getting started in finding out how it can be of assistance to Eli Lilly, the Indiana-based company that’s building a facility to produce injectable drugs in Bristol.
Matt Janisin is Executive Director of Academic Affairs for Gateway. "Microsoft is in the process of giving us some more scholarship money since we used up that last tranche," Janisin said. "So we might add some sections of the (courses) that normally only run in fall. We may add those to spring just so we can get more people in the pipeline because Microsoft seems to be ramping up their hiring."
Janisin refers to a four-course certificate that takes a year to complete for people interested in working in a data center.
Microsoft in Mt. Pleasant is expected to hit a payroll of 800 in the next several years
Meanwhile, Lilly expects to eventually employ about 750 workers in Bristol.
Gateway is exploring the types of technical education programs that would lead to employment. "We don't know the extent of exactly what Lilly wants us to do or is looking for," Janisin said. "We're literally learning that as we go and taking some small steps while they are building out their facility."
-0-