September 27, 2023
Morgan Harper, a Conehatta native, leveraged funds from the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA) to quickly obtain a Commercial Driver's License through East Central Community College and enter the workforce.
“I drive a commercial vehicle every day in my new position with Henkels and McCoy, and my training through ECCC prepared me for the job,” said Harper. “My instructors trained me in several situations and made me a better driver. They taught me the importance of the job, how I am holding my own, my potential passengers, and other people on the road’s lives in my hands as I drive.”
Enacted into law on July 22, 2014, WIOA is specifically designed to empower job seekers by providing access to employment, education, training, and vital support services essential for thriving in today's job market. It facilitates the alignment of employers with the skilled workforce required to compete on a global scale. Moreover, it strengthens and enhances our nation's public workforce system, bridging the employment gap for Americans encountering employment barriers and facilitating employers in securing and retaining skilled personnel.
Harper enthusiastically encourages fellow ECCC students engaged in programs falling under the purview of this grant to seek out further information. "The application process is very straightforward and can be completed in less than 15 minutes," Harper remarked. “I would strongly encourage anyone that is attending ECCC in programs that fall under this grant to ask for information about it.”
Harper completed the CDL program in July of 2023 and quickly entered the workforce.
“My time with my instructors, Mr. Mike Reeves and Mr. Sam Copes, was very valuable to me,” said Harper. “They are outstanding instructors with real-world experience, and they pushed me to better myself and take the initiative to learn additional skills on my own. I would be remiss to not mention their role in my journey.”
For more information about the WIOA program please contact case manager Nykemia “Kim” Brown at nbrown@eccc.edu or at 601-635-6295. For more information on ECCC’s CDL program contact Scotty Russell at srussell@eccc.edu or 601-635-6245.
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