Florida expands funding for state college CDL training
The opportunities to earn a CDL in Florida are going to see a big uptick.
On Sept. 15, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced an $8.2 million expansion in funding for commercial driver’s license training programs at five state colleges. The governor’s office says the increased funds are in an effort to grow the number of trained drivers in the state.
The state colleges receiving funding:
- State College of Florida
- Broward College
- Daytona State College
- Northwest Florida State College
- Valencia College
Officials say the goal is to expand the overall capacity of the CDL programs by at least 1,200 students per year. With the increase, the state estimates that around 3,500 students per year will be able to be trained at state institutions. DeSantis said that prior to 2019 the CDL training capacity at state institutions was less than 1,000 students per year.
“In Florida, over the past three years we have made significant investments into workforce education, with an emphasis on trucking and the entire transportation industry … These investments are driving the growth of our rural communities and state as a whole,” DeSantis said in a statement.
The bulk of the funding for the expansion comes from the state’s Job Growth Grant Fund. The money will go toward starting new programs at some universities while purchasing upgrades and new equipment for existing programs. The state also intends to fund tuition costs for up to 142 students at the Broward College campus.
To further assist prospective drivers, the Florida Department of Education will award $500,000 to fund tuition costs at three of the schools. State Education Secretary Dane Eagle said the funds support the growth of an important industry.
“Nearly everything we depend on in daily life is made possible through the trucking industry,” Eagle said in a statement. “These strategic investments will positively impact hardworking Floridians, the trucking industry, and the state’s economy, while also ensuring that Florida is No. 1 in workforce development by 2030.” LL