Thursday, March 30, 2023
Jeff Smullen, from Rathdrum, stands in front of one of his company’s trucks in Hauser. Smullen was able to land a job at Champion Concrete Pumping Inc. and Conveying within a week of finishing his CDL class at NIC Workforce Training Center. He paid for 90% of the class through Idaho LAUNCH funding. Tom Greene/North Idaho College
By Tom Greene, North Idaho College
After 11 years of working in the U.S. Air Force and then as a carpenter, 29-year-old Jeff Smullen decided it was time for a change. The Rathdrum man said the freedom and variety of driving a truck seemed like a good fit. The price tag, however; was daunting.
“I was thinking ‘How am I going to take this class (Commercial Driver’s License)?’ I’m a blue-collar guy. I live paycheck to paycheck. I don’t have $4,500 in my back pocket,” Smullen said.
Smullen was in touch with employees at the North Idaho College Workforce Training Center, who suggested he apply for training funds on the Idaho LAUNCH website. Applying was easy, he said, the only qualifications were that he worked in Idaho, was over 18 and had never used the funds before.
After that, a representative from the Idaho Department of Labor called him to help evaluate the amount he would need to reach his goals and within a month he was earning a Class A CDL through the NIC Workforce Training Center in Post Falls with 90% of the cost of tuition covered.
“I cannot speak more highly of LAUNCH or how easy it was to apply,” Smullen said.
After a statewide survey of Idaho employers to identify in-demand skills needed in the state, Idaho LAUNCH funding became available in 2020. (This established funding source is different from the Idaho Launch expansion bill currently being debated in the Idaho Legislature which, if passed, would only affect high school students and wouldn’t start until 2024.) In 2022, LAUNCH paid for 492 student courses at NIC Workforce Training Center, for a total of $808,450.
NIC Workforce Training Center Director Vicki Isakson said it’s important that anyone interested in applying for LAUNCH funding be aware that there is a limited amount of funding available. When the money is gone, there’s no guarantee it will be replenished by the state. Recently, the total amount covered by each Idaho LAUNCH voucher was reduced from $7,500 to $5,000.
“This isn’t going to last forever,” Isakson said. “Even if you’re not planning on taking a class immediately, it’s a good idea to go ahead and apply for the funding. You’ll have a year after being accepted to put it toward a class.”
Smullen said he’s been the program’s biggest advocate.
“I’m trying to get a friend to do it. I’m telling him ‘Just go get your CDL now. It’s not like you have $4,500 sitting around.’” Smullen said.
Within a week of graduating from the month-long CDL class, Smullen had a job operating a concrete pump truck as a Line Pump Operator. It’s exactly what he was looking for.
“I don’t think people know how much NIC has to offer outside of the regular community college classes. They will help you with life skills. They can give you skills with real-world applications,” Smullen said. “I mean, why wouldn’t you take advantage of this while you can?”
Idaho LAUNCH can cover 90% of a qualifying program up to $5,000. Qualifying programs are marked in this catalog. All NIC apprenticeship programs qualify for LAUNCH funding, which includes HVAC, Plumbing, Electrical, Construction and Heavy Equipment, as well as health-related apprenticeships in Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant and Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA).
For information, visit www.nic.edu/IdahoLaunch.