Parking, rather, the lack of it, has been a downtown problem for years. Recently, the Downtown Thomaston Development Authority with the support of Thomaston City Council made a move to add new spaces and purchased and demolished a vacant building on West Lee Street.

Once the building was removed, it was time to plan the new parking spaces. DDA President Lee Hill called Flint River Technical College for assistance.

"We are on such a tight budget since we are using tax dollars and I just thought as much good as Flint River Technical College does for the community that they might be able to help us," said Hill.

She was right. The Public Works Civil Technician program at Flint Tech and instructor Melvin Ewing were willing - and capable - of helping.

"We went to the property and took the measurements and then came back here and drew the project to scale so the students could plan the parking spaces," Ewing said.

If the design is approved by the DDA and the city, the design will be converted into plans a contractor can use to construct the new parking lot.

Ewing said the project was a good learning experience for the class, and also an opportunity to introduce the community to the new civil technician program.

"Students who complete this program can find work with the Department of Transportation, with county government road departments and in other areas," Ewing said. "Our goal here at Flint River Technical College is to equip people with marketable skills so they can find work in the shortest period of time."

A high school diploma is required to enroll in the Public Works Civil Technician program.