This award provided funding to the College of the Albemarle (COA) Foundation to complete the startup implementation of the truck driving program located at the Edenton COA campus. The new program was established in response to demand for approximately 758 CDL drivers in the college’s seven-county region and a lack of nearby truck driving training programs, with the closest two programs located more than 60 miles away from the Edenton. COA’s Truck Driving Program began in Fall 2020 with donated equipment, under restrictive COVID protocols, and using leased driving practice space at the Edenton Municipal Airport. The equipment purchased with Golden LEAF funds allows the college to increase enrollment to approximately 12-15 students per course for an estimated total of 72 students per year. The truck driving program is sustained by FTEs generated by student enrollment as well as student fees and general college revenues. Golden LEAF funds were used for trucks, trailers, and related equipment, and for six months of salary for the full-time instructor/program coordinator position to complete startup implementation of the program.
