START here with us

START in the Media

02/07/2025 | Mayor Jacobs Talks About Bassmaster, START Center, and More…

01/24/2025 | Mayor Jacobs Talks About the Imagination Library, START Center, President Trump, Young-Williams Animal Center, and More

01/22/2025 | START Center, KCS and TCAT Team Up for Trades Dual-Enrollment

11/25/2024 | START Center Hosts KCS 865 Academy Students

12/22/2023 | Mayor Jacobs Talks START Center, Festival of Lights, and More

12/14/2023 | Mayor Jacobs, Local Leaders to Sign START Center MOU

12/10/2021 | Mayor Talks About Dec. 7, Read City, and START

Are you Interested in HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical or Carpentry?
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Skilled Trades Academy Regional Training Center
(START) Center

The START Center is a public-private partnership between Knox County Government and trade-based industry and education leaders that is dedicated to building better economic opportunities through trade-based education, innovative teaching, industry experiences and foundational development.

Through collaboration with the 865 Academies, TCAT-Knoxville and the Associated Builders and Contractors of East Tennessee, along with industry partners, the START center provides youth and adult programs that prepares students with workforce opportunities, work based training opportunities, as well as postsecondary and apprenticeship training through skilled instruction from industry professionals.

START With Us To Learn More About Apprenticeship

Apply for Dual Enrollment

Become an Apprentice

865 Academy Partnership form

Knox County Students contact your 865 Academy counselor

Adult applicants can find information on both ABC Courses and TCAT Courses

How Did We START?

Upon taking office in 2018, Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs discovered a trade-based workforce shortage effecting the East Tennessee region. In May of 2019, Mayor Jacobs began the preliminary work of establishing what we now know as the START Center. With support from the state, regional mayors, trade-focused industry partners and education leaders, Mayor Jacobs' vision for a committed regional trades apprenticeship center for youth and adult learning became a reality in 2023.

Seeing a need for skilled trade improvements and workforce development in East Tennessee, Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs developed a vision for a regional trade academy in Knox County. Through a partnership with Knox County Schools' 865 Academies, The Tennessee College of Applied Technology Knoxville and the Associated Builders and Contractors of Greater Tennessee, a memorandum of understanding was signed in December 2023, uniting all parties in that dream.

That historic collaborative effort officially marked the beginning of the Skilled Trades Academy and Regional Training Center in Knox County, Tennessee.

A Vision For STARTers

The START Center aims to address the growing needs of our regional economy through postsecondary educational opportunities, apprenticeship training, direct-hire initiatives for initial employment as well as job-advancement training for those currently in our industry workforce.

Courses Offered:

TCAT Dual enrollment for Knox County Students
ABC offers pre-apprenticeship and industry certification training for Knox County Students and work-based learning opportunities
ABC offers apprenticeship training for adult learners and current industry certification and credentialing
ABC and TCAT offer courses in HVAC, Electrical, Plumbing, and Carpentry
The START Center serves as a training facility for additional industry related training