21 October ICC breaks ground on Commercial Truck Driving Training Center October 21, 2024 By Thomas, Donna S. General 0 Itawamba Community College broke ground today (Oct. 21) for its Commercial Truck Driving Training Center which will be located at the new driving range across the street from the Tupelo Campus at 2176 So. Eason Blvd. The 8,504-square-foot facility will include multiple truck bays, lab with a truck driving simulator, classroom, exterior wash bay, three offices and storage space. “Today we break ground on a facility that will not only enhance our institution but will also help us to better meet a need in our region and beyond,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “This new Commercial Truck Driving Training Center symbolizes more than the start of another construction project, but represents our continued commitment to education, workforce development and the future of our students. Our goal, as always, is to provide sustainable pathways to success, and this center will do just that by providing a space for our students to learn and train for a critical role in today’s economy.” ICC Vice President of Career and Workforce Education Barry Emison shared the importance of the trucking industry and the new facility. “We all know how vital the trucking industry is in almost every aspect of our lives. From what we wear, what we eat, our tools, toys, gadgets – almost everything as well as the materials to make it get to ride in a truck at some point.” Emison said that according to the Mississippi Department of Employment Security, there are 10,000 truckdrivers in North Mississippi alone, and projections indicate that there will be 1,200 openings annually. “Three years ago, new federal regulations forced many programs across the country to close, and it allowed us (ICC) to take a pause, reevaluate, bring our industry partners together and make a plan to, not only comply with new federal regulations, but enhance the commercial truck driver training at ICC. This facility will allow ICC to train hundreds of professional truckdrivers annually at a cost that is substantially less than the commercial companies. Thank you to our industry partners, President and Board of Trustees for their commitment and investment.” Allen expressed appreciation to ICC’s significant partners in this project, including support from Governor Tate Reeves, Community Development Foundation, Three Rivers Planning and Development District, Appalachian Regional Commission and Accelerate MS. Allen recognized ICC’s Commercial Truck Driving faculty, Jeff Reeder, Greg Taylor and Kenneth Lee. “Your dedication to our students and your commitment to excellence are what make programs like this one so impactful,” he said. “With this new facility, you’ll have even greater resources to continue your exceptional work.” He also noted that the center is being built with current and prospective students in mind. “We want you to have access to the best possible training, equipment and opportunities. I look forward to seeing how you will shape the future of this industry. ICC’s CTD program prepares individuals to drive Class A semitrucks and other commercial vehicles. It includes four-week or six-week training options. “As we turn the shovels today, we are turning toward a future filled with opportunity, growth and innovation. This is more than just a building – it’s another step toward fulfilling our mission to enrich lives and build stronger communities through education.” Hooker Construction of Thaxton will be the contractor, and PryorMorrow PC, the architect. Related Articles Itawamba Community College receives $100,000 and joins 41 other schools across the US as All Within My Hands' Metallica Scholars Initiative expands in year five Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands, continues its multimillion-dollar investment in critical workforce programs at community colleges nationwide. Among the schools, Itawamba Community College was selected from a competitive pool of applicants to receive $100,000 to transform the futures of students in the community. “It is a tremendous honor for Itawamba Community College to be selected as one of the recipients of the prestigious All Within My Hands grant, which will significantly impact our career education programs, providing funding for students to pursue a pathway and their best start,” said ICC President Dr. Jay Allen. “It is another indication of the success of the College and reinforcement of the mission that students and their success are our top priority.” The Metallica Scholars Initiative (MSI) was launched in 2019 by Metallica’s foundation, All Within My Hands (AWMH), in partnership with the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC). The workforce initiative marks its fifth year with an ambitious expansion into new curricula. MSI now directly supports 42 community colleges across 33 states, and by the end of this year, it will have helped ... Ashley Charitable Foundation donates $500,000 to ICC's Commercial Truck Driving program Itawamba Community College’s Commercial Truck Driving program will benefit from a $500,000 donation from the Ashley Charitable Foundation (ACF), a nonprofit organization founded by Ashley Furniture Industries, LLC and committed to supporting education and workforce development, presented this afternoon at the Tupelo Campus. Among those participating in the event were Ron Wanek, Founder and Chairman of Ashley Furniture Industries, and Dr. Jay Allen, President of Itawamba Community College. The presentation also included a special congratulatory video by Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves. This contribution marks ACF's continued dedication to partnering with higher education institutions to drive growth in the workforce. "Itawamba Community College exemplifies successful educational programs that adequately equip students to enter the workforce,” Wanek said. “We strongly believe in providing individuals with opportunities in the areas of STEM, and our partnership with Itawamba aligns perfectly with this vision.” Wanek said that Ashley started in a 35,000-square-foot facility in Ecru with 35 employees and has had a strong presence in the state since 1994. “Mississippi is the best place to do business. We appreciate growing in Mississippi.” The facility has ... Are you interested in Commercial Truck Driving? Itawamba Community College is conducting an interest survey for Commercial Truck Driving. If you are interested in learning more about the program or enrolling, click on this link to complete the survey…www.iccms.edu/CTDinterest. ICC’s CTD program prepares individuals to drive Class A semitrucks and other commercial vehicles. It includes instruction in operating diesel-powered vehicles, loading and unloading cargo, reporting delays or accidents on the road, verifying loads against shipping records and keeping necessary records. It is designed to give the future driver a complete and thorough knowledge of log books, trip records and the motor carrier safety regulations of the United States Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Options include four weeks, Monday through Friday, 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m., or eight-week classes and eight-week internship. Enrollment requirements include U.S. citizen or Puerto Rico valid driver’s license; copy of good driving record; acceptable driving record with no more than two speeding tickets in the previous three years and no DUIs or DWUIs in the previous five years; pass DOT physical and drug screening ... Registration underway for ICC Commercial Truck Driving program Registration is underway for a Commercial Truck Driving program at the Itawamba Community College Tupelo Campus. The career pathway program prepares individuals to drive Class A semi-trucks and other commercial vehicles. It includes instruction in operating diesel-powered vehicles, loading and unloading cargo, reporting delays or accidents on the road, verifying loads against shipping records and keeping necessary records. According to ICC Continuing Education director Josh Gammill, “It is designed to give the future driver a complete and thorough knowledge of logbooks, trip records and the motor carrier safety regulations of the United States Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration.” Classes meet Monday through Friday from 7 a.m.-3:30 p.m. for four weeks at the ICC-Tupelo Campus (2176 So. Eason Blvd.). Enrollment requirements include U.S. citizen or Puerto Rico valid driver’s license; copy of good driving record; acceptable driving record with no more than two speeding tickets in the previous three years and no DUIs or DWUIs in the previous four years; pass DOT physical and drug screening within 30 days of class; and pass class A CDL Learner’s ... ICC breaks ground on innovative Connection Center Itawamba Community College ceremonially broke ground today for its Connection Center, which is expected to open on the Fulton Campus during the 2026 spring semester. In bringing greetings on behalf of the ICC Board of Trustees, Chairman Steve Coleman of Pontotoc called the ceremony “a celebration of the future of ICC and our continued focus on student, employee and community engagement. This outstanding facility will not only serve the students who are enrolled in 2026 but countless students and community members for many years to come.” ICC President Dr. Jay Allen said that today’s ceremony was an opportunity to participate in and celebrate another milestone for the College since he arrived as president in 2017. “This groundbreaking is another significant milestone along this ever-changing journey. The building of this $4.9 million innovative student- and community-friendly Connection Center will provide state-of-the-art meeting space and a new dining option for all to enjoy.” The facility, which is being built in the front portion of the Band Hall parking lot, will include a multi-use conference center space and a Chick-fil-A. The ... TAG Truck Center Tupelo facilitates rolling chassis donation to ICC's Diesel Equipment Technology program TAG Truck Center Tupelo (TAG Tupelo) recently facilitated the donation of a rolling chassis training aid to the Itawamba Community College Diesel Equipment Technology program for hands-on training while studying chassis repair during its core diesel curriculum. The chassis, originally used in Daimler Truck North America’s Service Training Academy, was in Tooele, Utah and was due for placement at a college or school which applied for it and would use it for training purposes. TAG Tupelo provided the logistics and transportation costs to have it delivered to ICC’s diesel shop. “Our program’s partnership with TAG Tupelo is strong, and we thank them and Higgins Logistics for facilitating this donation. It will allow for practical hands-on experience for our Diesel Equipment students, which is vitally important for their knowledge growth,” said Jason Gholston, director of ICC’s Diesel Equipment Technology program. ICC’s Diesel Equipment Technology program, which was created in 1985, is an instructional program that prepares students with competencies required to maintain and repair a variety of industrial diesel equipment. The program includes instruction in inspection, repair and maintenance of engines, power trains, ... Comments are closed.