Harford County Executive Barry Glassman Awards $160,000 to Harford Community College Foundation for CDL/CLA Workforce Development Program

The program will benefit Harford County citizens who desire upskill training and career advancement in industries including, but not limited to, warehouse and logistics.

Harford County Executive Barry Glassman has awarded $160,000 to the Harford Community College Foundation to design and deliver a workforce development training program that will incorporate foundational employment skills culminating in a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Class B certification through a Certified Logistics Assistant (CLA) training component.

“This program will enable citizens in the community to obtain well-paying job offers and improve their quality of life by earning certifications they otherwise would not have been able to achieve because of financial and logistical barriers,” Mr. Glassman said.

Through a partnership with the county government and local industry, Harford Community College will provide customer service, warehouse and logistics, and CDL training to provide additional opportunities for the program participants.

The funds will be used to furnish and support the program with technology and materials and, most importantly, a CDL driving simulator that will provide students with the much-needed commercial vehicle pre-driving experience while increasing safety and reducing overall risk by not placing inexperienced drivers on the road.

“On behalf of the Board of Trustees, faculty, staff and students of Harford Community College, we commend County Executive Glassman for his foresight and generosity in the allocation of funds for this important workforce development training program. This project aligns our commitment to meeting the county’s needs by providing much needed training that will lead to employment for displaced workers or those looking to improve skills for the workforce,” stated Dr. Theresa B. Felder, president of the College.

The Harford County Government, along with Harford Community College, Susquehanna Workforce Network, and industry partners, identified a need to include more high-impact, hands-on educational practices to attract more students and displaced workers in order to effectively prepare them for the workforce.

“Skilled trades are an under-utilized and under-recruited professional area that currently has a great need in the county,” Len Parrish, Director of Community & Economic Development for Harford County Government said.

Harford Community College will provide training services with a warehouse and logistics certification, in addition to assistance in obtaining a commercial driver’s license, to launch in the Route 40 corridor to meet the current industry demand indicated by the service partners.

“Local businesses are eager to hire and promote employees with a commercial driver’s license, and this program will open doors to jobs with good salaries for our residents and their families,” County Executive Glassman said. “The program will be located in Edgewood on the Route 40 corridor and include a state-of-the-art driving simulator for trainees to safely gain experience and be on the way to advancing their careers.”

Harford County is home to an extensive variety of industrial facilities, manufacturers and production lines, warehouses, and distribution centers that require inventory control, materials disbursement, logistics, product assembly and production. Many local warehouses also provide product distribution and transportation that require a commercial driver’s license. By creating and delivering this program, the College will provide access to career growth and development for Harford County residents who would otherwise reach a “career glass ceiling” within their organizations due to the lack of opportunity to receive additional training.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (2019), the national job outlook for jobs which require a CDL is projected to increase by 2% from 2019 to 2029. There is a growing need to distribute materials, which is projected to grow by 3%.

The Susquehanna Workforce Network’s 2020 publications, Manufacturing: A Susquehanna Region Industry Brief and Distribution & Logistics: A Susquehanna Region Industry Brief indicate that CDL was the tenth most-advertised job requiring certification or licensure in the region, just behind cybersecurity and IT jobs. It’s also one of the most requested certifications in both wholesale trade and transportation/warehousing.

About Harford Community College

Harford Community College, the anchor institution for higher education in Harford County, is centrally located on 352 acres near Bel Air. The College offers more than 90 degree and certificate programs of study, as well as a variety of noncredit community education and workforce development courses. For more information, visit harford.edu.

About the Harford Community College Foundation

The Harford Community College Foundation, Inc. assists Harford Community College (Harford) and the advancement of public higher education by broadening the base of support and communication with private donors and public agencies. Through friend-raising, advocacy, and fundraising efforts, the Foundation sustains the College with financial and personal contributions for educational programs developed by the College community and approved by the Board of Trustees. Established in 1989 for the sole purpose of assisting the College in performing its mission, the Foundation receives and administers private gifts, bequests, and donations to benefit Harford students and to enhance the quality of teaching and learning at the College. Gifts to the Foundation support programs and activities not funded through traditional sources. At the same time, the Foundation provides assistance to donors through a comprehensive program of tax-wise gift alternatives through planned giving.

Dr. Felder and Barry Glassman

Harford County Executive Barry Glassman presents a $160,000 check to Harford Community College President Dr. Theresa B. Felder for the College to deliver a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Class B certification workforce development training program at the Edgewood Boys & Girls Club. Left to right: Victor Cyran, Director for Corporate & Professional Training at Harford; Dr. Felder; Matt Baylis, Harford’s Apprenticeship Coordinator; Dr. Austin Hill, Director for Strategic Partnerships at Harford; County Executive Glassman; Derek DeWitt, Executive Director, The Boys & Girls Clubs of Harford & Cecil Counties.