With starting salaries at $120,000 a year, Nevada is still experiencing a commercial truck driver shortage with an estimated need of 1,500 truck drivers with commercial driver licenses (CDL).
Workforce Connections and the College of Southern Nevada (CSN), are working in partnership with the Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation (GOWINN) to utilize Project SANDI, a $13.8 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education that Nevada was 1 of only 8 States awarded, to get more CDLs on the road and in the workforce through CSN’s CDL training program.
“Truck drivers play a critical role in America’s supply chain and the Greater Las Vegas Area is positioned well to serve as an in-land port. By creating collaborative workforce training programs through Project SANDI, we are working to diversify Nevada’s labor force to better align with economic diversification goals and business and industry needs,” said Lisa Levine, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation.
“CSN provides many short-term training programs that lead to exciting career pathways for Nevadans who are looking to change jobs or increase their skillsets. By utilizing Project SANDI funding through this partnership, we are excited to offer this training program at no cost to the students,” said Dr. Federico Zaragoza, President of the College of Southern Nevada.
Seventy-two percent of goods in America are shipped by truck, and in many communities, trucks are the only form of delivery.
“We rely on truck drivers to deliver many of our essential goods throughout the year. By connecting job seekers at our American Job Centers with CSN’s CDL training program, we are equipping Nevadans with the skills they need to succeed, paving the way for them to enter an in-demand career pathway,” said Jaime Cruz, Workforce Connections Executive Director.
Earlier this month, the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA), the economic development organization for the region, announced that Kodiak Trucking chose the Greater Vegas area and North Las Vegas for the site of its corporate headquarters relocation, creating hundreds of jobs in the region. “Nevada’s economic diversification relies on attracting in- demand industry sectors that include logistics, transportation, and manufacturing. Preparing Nevada’s labor force today through training, reskilling, and upskilling programs such as this will better align Nevada’s workforce with the in-demand occupations our state needs,” said Tina Quigley, LVGEA President & CEO.
If interested in learning more about CSN’s CDL training program or to find out if you are eligible for Project SANDI funding, visit nevadajobconnect.com/Superhero.
About Project “SANDI”
Nevada is 1 of 8 States to be awarded the Supporting and Advancing Nevada’s Dislocated Individuals (SANDI) project from the U.S. Department of Education. This investment toward expanding short-term education and training opportunities increases Nevadan’s access to career pathways in Nevada’s priority sectors including healthcare, advanced manufacturing, logistics, information technology (IT) and skilled trades to meet the needs of students, employers, and their local community. Project SANDI has supported more than 500 Nevadans from across the State in partnership with Great Basin College, College of Southern Nevada, Truckee Meadows Community College, Western Nevada College and other training providers.
About Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation
GOWINN helps drive a skilled, diverse, and aligned workforce in the State of Nevada by promoting cooperation and collaboration among all entities focused on workforce development. Its chief objectives are to prepare all K-12 students for college and career success, increase the number of Nevadans with postsecondary credentials and increase labor force participation.
GRANT FUNDING DISCLOSURES
The Stevens Amendment is a federal regulation that requires U.S. Departments of Labor (DOL), Health and Human Services (HHS), and Education grant recipients to reveal the percent of the costs financed with federal funds, the federal dollar amount, and the percentage and dollar amount financed by nongovernmental funds. The regulation was created with the intent to inform taxpayers of how much money comes from Federal sources in any program, project, or grant activity. For Supporting and Advancing Nevada’s Dislocated Individuals (SANDI), the Project SANDI grant totaling $13,818,298.92, awarded by the U.S. Department Education pays for all program costs.
