Wilkes Community College to use county site for new Heavy Equipment Operator training program
Summary
Wilkes Community College will use county property as an outdoor lab for a two‑semester Heavy Equipment Operator certificate program that starts this fall; the board approved the property‑use agreement.
Wilkes Community College will launch a two‑semester Heavy Equipment Operator program this fall and the Board of Commissioners approved county property use as an outdoor field lab.
Dr. Mike Rodgers, the college president, said the program issues a Level 1 certificate after the first semester and Level 2 after the second. Lead instructor Jonah Severt described hands‑on training on dozers, loaders, graders, skid steers and mini excavators, plus classes on environmental safety, erosion control and maintenance. The program is capped at about 10–12 students in its first cohort; eight were enrolled and three were on the intake list at the time of the meeting.
County Manager John Yates said the county would make a site available below the Agricultural Center and noted landfill activity may provide additional dirt and training opportunities as needed. Commissioners praised the program as a local workforce development initiative. Commissioner Hardin Kennedy cited instructor Severt—s prior SkillsUSA finish and emphasized local demand for equipment operators in public works and construction.
The motion to approve the agreement was made by Commissioner Hardin Kennedy, seconded by Commissioner Evan Handy and passed unanimously.
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