Co-Lin Workforce Development programs to get $1.2 million in AccelerateMS funding

WESSON — Copiah-Lincoln Community College’s Workforce Education Division will receive around $1.2 million in funds through the AccelerateMS initiative.

The support — for upgraded equipment and course offerings — will enhance key in-demand workforce education programs including industrial welding, electrical lineman training and commercial truck driving.

“Our college makes every effort to meet the skill needs requested by our business partners and takes seriously the needs of the labor force in the Co-Lin district,” Dr. Jane Hulon Sims, who serves as the institution’s president, said.

“We are extremely grateful to receive this funding from AccelerateMS to take our workforce education training programs and student skills to the next level.”

Co-Lin’s industrial welding courses, offered on the Wesson campus and at its Simpson County Center, will use its share of the funds for hands-on simulators to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of this training program.

Simulators provide limitless skill repetition needed by students for proper training regardless of the cost or availability of supplies.

Students will also benefit from the skill diversity this advanced technology offers in allowing participants to gain industrial welding knowledge for ship-fitting, pipe-fitting, industrial maintenance and heavy equipment repair.

Additionally, the simulators provide immediate feedback that allow students and instructors to quickly see mistakes and customize individual learning experiences to address skill needs.

Co-Lin’s electrical lineman program in Wesson will receive AccelerateMS funds for course equipment and additional resources to expand the outreach to new training sites in the Natchez and Simpson County areas.

In response to the state-wide need for heavy/tractor-trailer truck drivers and industrial truck/tractor operators, Co-Lin has increased its course offerings in commercial truck driving training through programs on the Wesson and Simpson campuses.

The new funding will allow for an expansion of the truck driving fleet to offer training and testing on both automatic and standard transmission vehicles at all class locations.

“The backing from AccelerateMS will allow our truck driving program to diversify its fleet, which is critical in providing training for the commercial vehicles that our industry partners are now deploying,” Luke Laird, Co-Lin Workforce Center director, said. “This award will substantially benefit the skill and talent pipeline in these high-demand fields.”

AccelerateMS serves Magnolia State residents and businesses by developing workforce strategies to connect individuals with transformative, high-paying careers.

The organization leverages resources and builds partnerships with institutions like Co-Lin that provide educational enhancement and economic prosperity in the college’s service area, which includes Franklin, Adams, Copiah, Jefferson, Lawrence, Lincoln and Simpson counties.

For details on classes and training programs, visit www.colin.edu/workforce.