ARC grant, donations provide short-term training in heavy equipment operation and truck driving
July 25, 2019
Tri-County Technical College is offering short-term training that can lead to long term careers for area residents interested in heavy equipment operation and truck driving.
For folks who qualify, it’s a small commitment with a big payoff, made possible by a $235,705 matching grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) and donations from community partners.
“With just an eight-week training commitment, these individuals will be qualified for these in-demand jobs at local companies,” said Dr. Rick Cothran, dean of the Corporate and Community Education Division at Tri-County. “We are offering two QuickJobs programs – the new heavy equipment operator training and the existing truck driving (CDL)training — that can quickly put people to work in jobs paying a sustainable wage.”
These training programs are designed to help unemployed and underemployed individuals, said Dr. Cothran, adding that recently-released ex-offenders with low-level offenses are urged to apply. This training can open the door for employment opportunities that are not available to these individuals in many other industry sectors, he said.
The national credential-based heavy equipment operator training and CDL truck driving training programs are being offered to meet the critical workforce needs in road construction, commercial construction, mining and transportation companies in Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties.
Workforce scholarships, funded by the state, can aid persons who are unable to afford the cost of training.
Other funding sources include the College’s capital expense funds and privately-donated funds by local companies. Prompted by a need to secure employees with a specific skill set, Vulcan Materials organized a clay shoot fundraiser last fall in Clinton, South Carolina, to raise money to purchase equipment for the heavy equipment program. Vulcan representatives presented a $47,933 donation (from proceeds of this fundraiser) to the College earlier this year.
“This program aligns with industry needs. Due to these donations and the ARC grant, heavy equipment and truck driving skills development will be affordable for most people to take the class, get certified and go to work,” Dr. Cothran said.
“There is not another heavy equipment operator training program in the Upstate,” said Dr. Cothran. “Tri-County’s program will give individuals the basic skills so they can understand and learn to safely operate heavy equipment.”
Commercial truck drivers are equally in high demand and the grant will fund an instructor who will teach heavy equipment and truck driving classes during the first year. Currently, the demand for CDL training is so high that Tri-County has a waiting list, said Dr. Cothran. This instructor will teach both types of classes to maximize the number of individuals who can be trained for these jobs.
“Jobs are out there and companies are waiting for qualified individuals. These job openings require the basic skills taught in these classes. We will help to place graduates with companies all over the state,” he said.
He anticipates training 60 heavy equipment operator and CDL students during the two-year grant period. “As the training progresses to completion for each class, employers will be invited to interview the students,” he said.
“People need jobs and employers need skilled people. There are plenty of jobs out there and we have the programs to help get them there quickly,” he said.
Heavy equipment classes start August 26. Evening CDL classes start August 12, and day classes begin August 14 and September 25. . For more information contact Julia Lee at [email protected], or 864-646-1707 or attend an open house (schedule is available at www.tctc.edu/learn).
