Dayton, OH – Clark State College and the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission (MVRPC) partnered together to make standardized driver training available to adult participants seeking employment in the region as part of the Greater Regional Mobility Initiative (GRMI).
Standardized driver-training will equip participants with basic knowledge for employment within the public and not-for-profit transportation sectors including public transit, volunteer driving programs, senior center transportation, non-medical transportation (NMT) for intellectually and/or developmentally disabled, and non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT).
"This conversation started at a Clark County Transportation Coordinating Committee meeting," said Tracy Yates, interim director of Workforce Development at Clark State. "We talked about the need for drivers in the transportation area and we knew we had to make a training that was flexible and affordable for our students and potential clients."
“A growing issue in the job market is the significant driver labor shortages that are experienced both in the Miami Valley Region and across the nation,” stated MVRPC’s Executive Director, Brian O. Martin, AICP. “The intent of this new program is to create a low-cost or no-cost opportunity for individuals looking for a new career and to create a workforce pipeline to address regional driver shortages.”
Crystal Jones, Vice President of Marketing, Diversity and Community Impact at Clark State said, “Clark State Workforce and Business Solutions department is proud to participate in the GRMI. Our intention is to scale this program throughout the region and perhaps the state in the future. We value our partnership with the MVRPC and look forward to working together on other initiatives.”
The GRMI is an effort led by MVRPC in cooperation with the Ohio Department of Transportation Office of Transit. The GRMI is a council of various transportation operators, funders, and providers across an eight-county Region in the Miami Valley who work together to solve gaps in transportation services. The regional driver-training program aligns with the State’s goal established in Mobility Ohio, which is to improve safety, availability, and quality of transportation for older adults, people with disabilities, those with lower incomes and other transportation needs. The State intends to develop, align and coordinate transportation provider standards to include driver and vehicle standards to achieve this goal. The success of this pilot program could meet a statewide objective and potentially be expanded or modeled across the State of Ohio.
The driver-training course will last one week and be held monthly beginning in February of 2023. They will be held at the Clark State Hollenbeck Bayley Creative Arts and Conference Center, 275 South Limestone Street, Springfield. Cost is $1,000. Opportunities are available to assist with program fees. For more information or to register for classes, prospective students should contact Tracy Yates at yatest@clarkstate.edu or 937.328.6062.
Founded in 1962, Clark State College has campuses in Springfield, Beavercreek, Xenia and Bellefontaine, Ohio. Celebrating 60 years, Clark State offers the latest associate and bachelor degrees, certificates and transfer options in more than 130 professional fields. The economic impact of Clark State on Champaign, Clark, Greene and Logan Counties is in excess of $161 million dollars annually. Enrollment is open year-round, and financial aid and Foundation scholarships are available for those who qualify. Spring A academic term begins January 17, 2023.
Established in 1964, the Miami Valley Regional Planning Commission promotes collaboration among communities, stakeholders, and residents to advance regional priorities. MVRPC is a forum and resource where the Board of Directors identifies priorities and develops public policy and collaborative strategies to improve quality of life throughout the Miami Valley Region.
MVRPC performs planning and research functions for our Region that ensure livable and equitable communities; clean air and water; robust roadway, transit, and active transportation options; and strategic community plans that chart the course for member communities and partners. MVRPC’s Regional Transportation Planning Organization (RTPO) involves Preble, Darke, and Shelby Counties. As the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), MVRPC is responsible for transportation planning in Greene, Miami and Montgomery Counties and parts of northern Warren County. MVRPC's areawide water quality planning designation encompasses five (5) counties: Darke, Preble plus the three MPO counties.
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