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Davids Announces Funding for Veterans Job Training at Johnson County Community College

September 16, 2021

Today, Representative Sharice Davids announced the Department of Transportation awarded $59,925 to Johnson County Community College (JCCC) to provide scholarships to Veterans and their family members in the college's Commercial Driver's License (CDL) program. JCCC anticipates using the funds to enroll at least 15 students, who will leave the program with the necessary skills to get good-paying jobs in the trucking workforce.

"This grant has multiple benefits for our community: it will connect Veterans and their family members with the skills-based education needed to go into a stable and high-demand industry like trucking, which will then help strengthen our supply chains and improve safety on our roads," said Davids. "I'm glad to announce this funding for JCCC's program and excited to support their workforce education efforts."

"Johnson County Community College is excited to be a recipient of the Department of Transportation's Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training grant. This award will provide scholarships to 15 Veterans or their immediate family members to enroll in our Commercial Driver's License (CDL-A) training program," said Dr. Andy Bowne, President of Johnson County Community College. "Since 2016, seventy-seven percent of students awarded this scholarship through JCCC have found employment with trucking firms in Johnson County and the Kansas City Metropolitan Area."

Background:

Commercial Motor Vehicle Operator Safety Training Grant Program is operated through the Department of Transportation's Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The program aims to reduce the severity and number of crashes involving commercial motor vehicles by expanding the number of CDL holders with enhanced operator safety training. It also aims to assist current or former members of the United States Armed Forces (including National Guard members and Reservists) and their spouses in receiving training to transition to the commercial motor vehicle operation industry.

JCCC's 9-week CDL Training Program has a student-to-instructor ratio of 2:1, compared to the industry average of 4:1, with up to 60 hours of behind-the-wheel range training. They anticipate providing 15 students with full scholarships of $4,700, using the federal grant money.

Federal funding for this grant was authorized by the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act — A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU).

Issues:Education