Volkswagen Launches Partners in Education

Promoting education from K through college in Tennessee was the theme today.

Top officials of Volkswagen of America were joined by Governor Phil Bredesen to announce a 5.28 million dollar commitment to educational enrichment.

DR. HORST NEUMANN, V-W HUMAN RESOURCES "If we are going to create first rat minds..we have to create first rate schools."

The head of human resoruces for Volkswagen in America made the announcement today before a crowd of 300 local educators, civic and political leaders, It will be a 5 year, 5 and a quarter million dollars in assistance to education from K through 12 in Chattanooga...along with funding for Chattanooga State. Also included in the program will be UTC, Tennessee State University, The University of Memphis, Fisk, U-T Knoxville, and the Oak Ridge National Laboratories.

ST. SEN. ANDY BURKE, (D) CHATTANOOGA "Volkswagen is showing that it is a big community player."

DR. JIM SCALES, SUPT. HCDE "We're going through some difficult times as we all know...this commitment ..An investment in education is just fantastic."

Volkswagen planners say the Partners in Education program, which they have also done in Virginia, will impact education at all levels in the state.

DR. STEFAN JACOBY, PRES. V-W GROUP OF AMERICA "Promoting education is the right thing to do..its also the smart thing to do. Volkswagen wants to help young people of this regional achieving their future potential."

Frank Fischer, who heads V-W's building program in Hamilton county announced yesterday that the billion dollar plant will hire "far more" than the 2000 highly trained workers first announced.

GOV. PHIL BREDESEN, TENNESSEE "I think this is a clear message to the young people of Tennessee from one of the most respected auto-makers in the world...we are investing in Tennessee Schools...but we are really investing in you."

Nearly 57-million dollars in contracts have already been awarded by Volkswagen, local and state governments for work on the site at Enterprise South.

A temporary visitor center center will be open by this summer.