The United States Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration has awarded the school $1 million to enhance the instruction, administration, and vehicles available for the program.
Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College has received a $1 million grant from the United States Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration to make enhancements to its CDL program. The grant will allow the college to add additional vehicles to the roster of its available vehicles for training, improve program administration, and enhance the program instruction, including adding Class B vehicle training.
According to an article on Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College’s website, Dr. Tom Striplin, the president of the college, was quoted as saying of the grant funding, “We are thrilled to have been selected for this award. Our goal is to provide workforce training and certifications that meet the increasing job demand in trades and industries throughout the region. This expansion of our CDL program complements the $1.4 million earmark we previously received to launch a Heavy Equipment Operator training program.”
Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College’s CDL program currently only focuses on Class A vehicles, which include semi trucks and tractor trailers. The grant will allow the school to make the addition of Class B vehicles, which will open up a slew of possibilities for CDL training, including buses, dump trucks, delivery vehicles, and farm machinery.
The grant funding will allow the school to purchase a dump truck and a school bus for training purposes, as well as simulation equipment for Class B vehicles. The school already has simulation equipment for its Class A training and finds the equipment to be integral to its training.
Lauren Arbaugh, who serves as the Director of Workforce and Continuing Education at the school, said, “Adding CDL Class B training to our offerings provides a comprehensive solution for individuals seeking certification to drive various types of trucks for both construction and road work. The use of simulators allows students to safely practice their driving skills before hitting the road, enhancing safety and reducing program costs.”
In addition to the purchases that will be made, the funding will also go toward enhancing the instruction and administration of the program, which is expected to launch with its enhancements in 2025.
For more information about Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College, visit the school’s website.