Danville Community College Educational Foundation is thrilled to announce that it has received a grant in the amount of $233,081 from the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission for the expansion of the Commercial Driver's License program. DCC will be adding a Class B (CDL B) training program to meet the needs of business and industry in our area. Examples of jobs that require a Class B license are bus drivers, dump truck drivers, fuel truck drivers, and sanitation truck drivers, to name a few.
The grant was officially approved during the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission Meeting held at The Inn at Blackstone in Blackstone, Virginia. The funding will be utilized to meet the growing demand for CDL B training, a crucial resource for local business and industry partners.
DCC President, Dr. Jerry Wallace; Vice President of Workforce Services, Mark Funkey; and Shannon Hair, Vice President of Institutional Advancement & Development and Executive Director of the DCC Educational Foundation joined forces to submit the grant application and it was met with resounding approval from Commission Members.
“In collaboration with the Danville Community College's Workforce Services, the Office of Institutional Advancement was pleased to work with the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission on this investment,” said Shannon Hair, Vice President of Institutional Advancement & Development and Executive Director of the DCC Educational Foundation. “The work provided by the Commission Staff played an important role is the award. It's an exciting time at DCC. Under the leadership of Dr. Jerry Wallace, DCC is moving forward with new programs being planned and taking shape to meet the needs of our industry partners.”
DCC's commitment to meeting the workforce needs of their communities aligns with the vision of Dr. David Dore, the Chancellor of Virginia's Community College System. Dr. Dore emphasizes the importance of workforce development, and the grant will contribute to fulfilling this mission. DCC is part of a collective effort across Virginia's community colleges to secure funding for various workforce development initiatives, including advanced manufacturing expansion, healthcare training expansion, and emergency medical training, among others.
In total, the collective grant requests from Virginia's Community Colleges exceeded $1.5 million. The Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission Staff recommended funding through Competitive Education to support projects specific to CDL B training, advanced manufacturing expansion, and various other workforce development programs.
The grant will make a significant impact on workforce training in the region, enhancing opportunities for individuals seeking CDL B certification and improving the workforce landscape for local businesses.
DCC would like to extend its heartfelt appreciation to the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission for their ongoing and vital support of workforce development in the region.
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