Allen Community College is moving forward with plans to expand workforce training opportunities. College officials asked Allen County commissioners for formal backing Tuesday morning as part of a federal grant application.
The Economic Development Administration (EDA) construction grant would build a dedicated workforce development facility on campus. The proposed building would initially house diesel technology and commercial driver’s license (CDL) programs aimed at addressing local labor shortages.
“These are the first two programs that we’re going to facilitate in the building,” said Kelly Baker, the college’s director of workforce development and apprenticeships. “The CDL program is going to start in the fall, regardless of whether we get the grant.”
THE EDA application requires strong regional partnerships and documentation of workforce demand. Baker said the college is seeking the county’s help in demonstrating both. “What we’re seeking is a commitment from the county to help us document industry engagement and also support partnerships in ways that are helpful to our student training,” she said.
Sonia Gugnani, the college’s grants administrator, said the proposed programs stem from multiple conversations. “We have talked to a lot of business and industry people,” Gugnani said. “We have had our comprehensive local needs assessment, where we talked to high schools in terms of what they are wanting for their students.”
She added that state transportation officials have indicated a pressing shortage of licensed drivers. “We have talked to the Kansas Department of Transportation and they have so many people retiring that they can’t fill the need for CDL drivers,” Gugnani said.
The CDL course will run six to eight weeks, allowing students to complete required classroom instruction and driver training in a short timeframe.
“CDL is not a long-term program. Six to eight weeks is sufficient to get all of the theory book work in and the driver training,” Baker said. The diesel technology program will be longer in duration. The plan is to begin with 15 to 20 students per CDL cohort, hiring two instructors to ensure proper testing and instruction. Sessions will be offered continuously.
AS PART of the grant’s partnership component, the college is asking the county to provide practical support, such as interviewing graduates or allowing students to work on unused equipment. “If the county has old equipment that maybe doesn’t work or you’re not using anymore, we can use it as an instructional tool,” Baker said.
Gugnani added that the commission could also send county workers for training or have a commissioner serve on an advisory board. “For any CTE program, we have to have an advisory board to make sure we are current with the curriculum based on industry needs,” she said.
If funded, the new building would support expanded CDL offerings, including Class A and Class B licenses, with future plans for additional endorsements. “Maybe not right out the gate, but we do have plans to offer hazmat as well,” Baker said.
Commissioners voiced support for the grant application and asked the college to draft a letter outlining the county’s role in the partnership. Gugnani added the college hopes to submit the application by the end of this week.
