The city of Lexington’s workforce development program has helped place more than a thousand people in jobs over the past five years. That comes through economic development grants totaling just over a million dollars to partner agencies. Elodie Dickinson is the director of business and workforce engagement. Dickinson said American Rescue Plan Act funding allows eight agencies to receive $50,000 each of the next two years.
“Then this year because there’s eight recipients not five, and there’s more funding, then there should be more people placed and more people placed into certification or licensure like more individuals should be having their CDL than last year,” said Dickinson.
Dickinson noted hiring drivers with commercial licenses is a significant issue currently. There is a high need for truck and bus drivers, both in the public and private sectors. She added Community Action Council provides CDL training.
“They help them get prepared for the permit test. Then they also provide the equipment for them to get the road hours, and this is a school bus. Their particular one has a school bus endorsement and then they actually pay for them to actually take the test.”
Dickinson said there is also a cost associated with the required physical. The city’s workforce development official updated members of the City Council’s Budget Committee on efforts over the last five years. Federal COVID recovery funds will boost grant levels for partner agencies by about $400,000 in each of the next two years.