AWARD PURPOSE THE PURPOSE OF THE PROJECT IS TO PROVIDE WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT A SUSTAINABLE DIVERSE SUPPLY OF SKILLED WORKERS AND TRUCK DRIVERS FOR THE HEAVY }: HIGHWAY CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY AND THE TRANSPORTATION INDUSTRY. THE GOAL OF THE PROGRAM IS TO TRAIN 112 NEW HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS AND 72 NEW TRUCK DRIVERS. THE SECONDARY GOAL IS TO SUPPORT ECONOMIC GROWTH FOR RURAL AREAS THAT DESPERATELY NEED A RELIABLE SUPPLY OF SKILLED WORKERS IN THESE INDUSTRY SECTORS IN ORDER TO BE POSITIONED TO THRIVE. ACTIVITIES PERFORMED BTI WILL PROVIDE HEAVY EQUIPMENT AND TRUCK DRIVING CLASSES IN SEVERAL RURAL COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE TARGET REGIONS. TRAINING WILL BE PROVIDED BY USING OUR MOBILE PLATFORMS THAT ALLOWS FOR LOCALIZED DELIVERY. THIS WILL REDUCE BARRIERS TO ENTRY FOR PARTICIPANTS THAT HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY HAD ACCESS TO QUALITY TRAINING. ADDITIONALLY, ALL PARTICIPANTS WILL RECEIVE CAREER READY SKILLS WHILE PARTICIPATING IN THE COURSES ABOVE. DELIVERABLES - 112 CERTIFIED HEAVY EQUIPMENT OPERATORS - 72 PARTICIPANTS OBTAINING A CDL TO OPERATE COMMERCIAL TRUCK - RURAL COMMUNITIES SHOW AN INCREASE IN NUMBERS OF QUALIFIED WORKERS - PARTICIPANTS GRADUATE WITH A MEASURABLE INCREASE IN EMPLOYABILITY - LOCAL BUSINESSES SHOW AN INCREASED ABILITY TO FILL OPEN POSITIONS - UNDERREPRESENTED PARTICIPANTS ACCESS TRAINING AND ENTER THE WORKFORCE INTENDED BENEFICIARY PARTICIPANT GROUPS THAT WILL BENEFIT: - WOMEN - INCARCERATED AND FORMERLY INCARCERATED - BLACK, INDIGENOUS, LATINO/A/X, AND OTHER PEOPLE OF COLOR (BIPOC) - RURAL / REMOTE RESIDENTS OTHER BENEFICIARIES: - RURAL COMMUNITIES - EMPLOYERS SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES N/A