Pittsburgh Institute of Aeronautics (PIA) has announced plans to open a Jump Start Center located at 3354 Main Street, Weirton, WV 26062 for those interested in a four-week Commercial Driving program. Participants receive 160 clock hours of specialized training and, upon graduation, are prepared to test on the PIA truck with a state examiner for a CDL license.
The CDL Jump Start program is designed to serve dislocated mine workers, manufacturing and other declining industries throughout the region. PIA’s Jump Start Division was developed in 1996 with highly experienced faculty offering quality training to support the re-employment transition of individuals into in-demand industries.
“We feel it is our responsibility to provide a comprehensive student experience that gives our graduates confidence when interviewing and, ultimately, entering a new career,” said Nadia Speney, Admissions Supervisor for PIA’s Jump Start Division. “Our partnerships with state workforce development offices, local workforce investment units and other community agencies provides a seamless system to maximize resources available for our students.”
According to Speney, many dislocated coal, manufacturing and other industrial workers have been laid off through no fault of their own and are often eligible for re-employment benefits that are applied to the cost of the program. “PIA’s Jump Start students learn new skills and become credentialed, when you pair that with their previous work experience, now all of a sudden you have a top candidate for high-demand jobs in transportation,” said Speney.
The U.S. Department of Labor has awarded a $7.4 million National Emergency Grant (NEG) to WorkForce West Virginia to provide retraining and reemployment services to dislocated coal miners and displaced homemakers impacted by mass layoffs and coal mine closures. The grant will help participants find new career paths outside the coal mining industry and long-term reemployment opportunities through qualified programs such as PIA’s Jump Start program. The grant provides up to $5,000 per participant for Classroom Occupational Skills Training in an occupation expected to be in high demand. Participants who meet training program attendance requirements may also be eligible for training allowances to cover costs of gas, food, child care, etc. at the rate of $20.00 per day for the days attending class up to $100.00 per week.
The Jump Start program is just as beneficial to employers. The transportation industry is predicting a 249,000 driver shortage over the next several years and turns to PIA for credentialed drivers to fill needs in over the road trucking, oil and gas, equipment hauling, construction, rail, local delivery, intermodal, logging, state road departments, drivers’ unions, operators’ unions, and excavating, among many others.
PIA Jump Start students benefit from the school’s established trust with employers, who typically require previous experience but depend and trust on the capabilities of graduates, who typically earn $12 to $30 per hour, depending on the type of job and travel requirements they seek.
Clemmy Allen, the Executive Director of the United Mine Workers Association Career Centers Inc., feels passionately about the men and women who have been affected by the layoffs and believes there is life after coal due to the resilience and drive of its workers.
“West Virginia is experiencing a freefall of unemployment in the mining industry,” said Allen. “With no end in sight, dislocated miners and their families want to get back to work. They are looking for training that will provide an opportunity for them to earn family-sustaining wages.”
In addition to its new Weirton Center, PIA’s Jump Start program has additional locations in Pittsburgh, Clarksburg, WV and Charleston, WV. Those interested in PIA’s new Jump Start Center in Weirton should contact Christen Tarquinio at 304-914-4410 for individualized assistance.
