Steve Leach

Volkswagen's Training Academy, a building that's seen as key to a successful production startup, is slated for a mid-December finish, officials said Tuesday.

Work to build VW's $40 million, state-of-the-art training center is to be done Dec. 18, city public works administrator Steve Leach said.

"We're pushing as hard as we can to get this completed," he told Chattanooga's Industrial Development Board.

He said 160 people manning two shifts are working on the building adjacent to VW's Chattanooga plant that is under construction.

While the shell of the training center is basically complete, the fit-out work on the inside is under way, he said.

The panel Tuesday approved the purchase of training equipment that will go into the structure, including lathes, drill presses, and computer numerical controlled devices.

"Training is an ongoing thing," said board Chairman Ted Mills.

After construction of the training center is finished, the equipment will be installed into the facility to make way for production workers.

Through Nov. 15, VW is taking applications for the 1,200 production jobs for the plant that's slated to open in early 2011. The first production workers will be hired in the first quarter of 2010, according to VW.

Meanwhile, a Hixson company has won a $1.8 million contract to provide fencing at the VW plant site, said city engineer Bill Payne.

Thomas Brothers Construction was the low bidder for the project, which will be paid for from state, city and Hamilton County funds.

The $1 billion VW plant is to expected to employ 2,000 people and make a new mid-size sedan.