Craven Community College (Craven CC) and the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina have entered into an agreement that benefits underserved students seeking to enter the college’s Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) program or forklift operations program.
Under the new program, called Building Bridges, the Food Bank will fund all tuition costs for qualified students seeking to enroll in a CDL or forklift class. In addition, students will be provided with a $200 weekly support scholarship while enrolled in and attending one of the programs. Additional costs associated with the program may also be covered by the scholarship. Students will also have access to healthy food boxes, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and other safety net resources.
Student applications will be reviewed by the Food Bank. Qualified individuals must be unemployed, underemployed, or justice involved. Justice involved includes those previously incarcerated at the local, state, or federal level for 30 days or more or placed under probation, parole, or other functionally equivalent active supervision.
“We are honored and privileged to be part of a program that provides opportunities for our underserved population while also uplifting our community,” said Tangye Middleton, Craven CC Workforce Development Coordinator. “All of us have been affected by the pandemic in one way or another. This is another avenue that we can walk alongside those in our community and provide rich, robust experiences for them. The college is looking forward to strengthening the workforce and enriching many more lives.”
The college’s 56-Hour Forklift Operator course will run March 11-April 1, April 11-24, and May 6-27.
Craven CC’s CDL Truck Driver Training course will run May 22-July 17 with a mandatory orientation session on April 25.
For more information on Building Bridges, visit CravenCC.edu/BuildingBridges or contact Middleton at 252-638-7247 or middletont@cravencc.edu.