DECATUR, Ala. — The Alabama Community College System (ACCS) and Calhoun Community College in partnership with Wiregrass Construction and Midsouth Paving announces its Heavy Equipment Operator Training.
The school says, "The Innovation Center works alongside with business and industry leaders to deliver customized, no-cost training for jobs that are in high demand across the state. The goal of this program is to provide effective certified training to Alabamians who are ready to get to work but lack the skills necessary to do so and do not have the time it takes to complete a certification or degree. This program will solve both problems in a lesser amount of time and get them to work more quickly."
Misty Heard is a student in the Heavy Equipment Operator Training Program who encourages more women to at least give operating Heavy Equipment a try. "I don't see a lot of women on the construction side, and I'm very thankful that I was able to do this. I got the opportunity to learn how to operate a bulldozer and now a skid steer," said Heard.
According to Calhoun, "Prior to participating in the heavy equipment training, participants are required to register through the ACCS Innovation Center and complete online modules which teaches the concepts, objectives and safety practices required to operate skid steers in a construction zone setting. Upon successfully completing the online training, they can proceed to the physical training of learning how to operate the heavy equipment in a safe manner as required by industry policies and guidelines."
Calhoun instructor Timothy Williams said their goal is to show individuals how easy operating heavy equipment can be once you get the hang of it.
"Our goal is to get people who have never been in a skid steer, to get in one and see how it's so easy. You can do it, you can get a job at it, you can make a living at it, and it leads to bigger and greater things," he said. "Industries are in dire need of heavy equipment drivers and operators. There's a lot of people looking for help. We want to get people that are beginners."
Calhoun Community College Interim Director of Workforce Development Doug Brazier said this is a short-term investment. "They'll do some online training. they'll show up for a two-day lab, and then they can get a job making upwards of $20 an hour with local construction companies," he explained.
Brazier believes Calhoun is the "Workforce Engine" of North Alabama. "This is just part of the things that Calhoun does for the community to build the workforce," he stated.
This training is a part of the Alabama Community College System's rapid training program. Heard said she has learned that in the construction business there are numerous opportunities out there. "And I'm willing to try them all because it just might be a different path for me," she added.
To learn more about this program, and other upcoming trainings, click here.