SMITHFIELD – Johnston Community College purchased two Freightliner road tractors thanks to $443,000 in funding from the Golden LEAF Foundation’s Open Grants Program.
“Golden LEAF is pleased to support the expansion of Johnston Community College’s Truck Driver Training program,” said Golden LEAF President, Chief Executive Officer Scott T. Hamilton. “This funding will help the program increase enrollment, retain more students, and create a career pathway through the high school, all of which will work toward meeting the significant need for truck drivers in the region.”
The additional trucks will allow JCC’s program to increase its enrollment from 185 to 241 during the course of the grant.
“We will be able to accommodate more students to help with the current driver shortage across the state and the country,” says Transportation and Advanced Technologies department chair, Maxie Kirby.
“We could not be more excited to have the opportunity to update the fleet of the nation’s oldest truck driver training school,” Kirby added.
The funding also allows 30 incumbent workers to enroll in new continuing education courses and 20 high school students to participate in a new CTE Pathway through the Career and College Promise program.
JCC Truck Driver Training School remains one of the most affordable in the region and takes eight to 16 weeks to complete. For more information on enrollment, visit www.johnstoncc.edu, call 919-464-2339, or send an email to jcctdtinfo@johnstoncc.edu.
Peterbilts are better!!