Consul-General Watanabe visits TCAT Smyrna Campus and Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce

On June 17, Consul-General Watanabe visited the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) Murfreesboro – Smyrna Campus / Nissan Training Center and the Rutherford County Chamber of Commerce(@ruco_chamber).

Rutherford County is home to 25 Japanese-affiliated facilities, including Nissan North America, Topre America, Steel Technologies, Daiei America, and Nifco. For over 40 years, the region has maintained a strong and mutually beneficial economic relationship with Japan.

The contributions of Japanese companies in the area go beyond investment and job creation. These companies are also actively involved in workforce development through collaboration with local educational institutions. Among such efforts, the partnership between Nissan’s Smyrna plant and the Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) stands out as an exemplary case of cooperation among the public, private, and academic sectors.

The TCAT Murfreesboro – Smyrna Campus / Nissan Training Center was established in 2017 on a site adjacent to the Nissan Smyrna Plant, with joint funding from the State of Tennessee and Nissan North America. The facility is jointly operated with Nissan, featuring advanced hands-on training equipment and a wide range of technical programs. It provides practical, career-oriented education and training to both TCAT students and Nissan employees.