The current name derives from nearby Great Bay, the largest tidal estuary in New Hampshire.
As a comprehensive community college, Great Bay has developed partnerships with public and private four-year institutions both in and out of New Hampshire.
ATAC is the largest single project under the statewide Advanced Manufacturing Partnership in Education initiative formed by the Community College System of New Hampshire under the federal TAACCCT-NH grant, with a $19.9 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment & Training Administration.
The Northeast Economic Developers Association named Great Bay Community College's Advanced Technology & Academic Center "Project of the Year" on 8 September 2014, at its annual conference.
[4] John Ratzenberger, actor and advocate for advanced manufacturing, was a featured speaker at the 2014 Distinguished Leaders Awards and praised Great Bay Community College for their work.