Patrick & Henry Community College has been awarded a $176,267.00 grant from the Philip E. & Carole R. Ratcliffe Foundation to increase Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) training programming by offering HEO courses in Patrick County.
“We are pleased to partner with Patrick & Henry Community College to provide resources for the Heavy Equipment Operator Training program in Patrick County that will equip individuals with technical skills to meet the labor demands for the statewide road expansion and improvement projects.” said Carlene Cassidy, CEO of the Ratcliffe Foundation.
“Patrick & Henry CC has demonstrated a strong commitment to workforce training. We are confident that they will build on their current programs to set the next generation of learners up for success in their chosen fields and support the workforce needs of multiple employers throughout the region. Making education and skilled trades training accessible and supporting local business & industry are goals our founders wholeheartedly supported,” Cassidy added.
P&HCC currently offers Heavy Equipment Operator training at its Manufacturing, Engineering and Technology (MET) Complex in Martinsville. With funding from the Ratcliffe Foundation, the college will expand its current programming to its satellite site in Patrick County to lessen the burden of transportation for students and to train future workers to serve on the large scale project currently underway on U.S. 58.
“Having access to a pipeline of workers prepared to work as equipment operators will be an asset on numerous projects throughout the state,” said Robbie Williams, Branch project executive, adding, “In particular, this training project will greatly assist with the current project underway to widen the road on Route 58 in Patrick County, Virginia as well as upcoming projects in the area.”
The Virginia Employment Commission shows that there are currently 10,015 individuals employed as construction equipment operators across the state. By 2030, this number is expected to grow to 10,894, a growth of nearly 10%. Because of job transfers and individuals retiring or switching professions, there are currently 1,180 openings posted for construction equipment operators annually. According to JobsEq data, operating engineers and other construction equipment operators earn an average of $49,100 per year, with more experienced workers earning more than $55,200 per year.
“With funding from the Ratcliffe Foundation, we will have the funds to purchase simulators that play a critical role in training students before they transition to practice on real life machinery. There are multiple benefits to training on simulators: learning on simulators reduces accidents by allowing students to train in a safe and relaxed environment, students can practice extreme situations and operations without risking injury or machine damage, producing and running a simulator leaves a minimal climate footprint compared to a traditional machine running on fossil fuels, and simulators allow students to gain more hours in the machine or vehicle regardless of season and weather,” said P&HCC Vice President for Workforce, Economic and Community Development Rhonda Hodges.
Interested students must first complete the National Center for Construction Education & Research (NCCER) Introductory Craft Skills program, which is a prerequisite course. NCCER Heavy Equipment Operator (HEO) Level 1 training covers a variety of critical skills for those working in the field including orientation to the trade, heavy equipment safety, identification of heavy equipment, basic operational techniques, utility tractors, introduction to earthmoving, grades, and vertical-mast sit-down counterbalance forklifts.
While uniquely aligned with the current road-widening project, the training prepares participants for a variety of positions within the construction trades industry that is in high-demand in P&HCC’s service region.
