KDOT grant gives over $300K to Seward Co. Community College

LIBERAL, Kan. (KSNW) — The Kansas Department of Transportation’s Kansas Innovative Technology Program has awarded Seward Community College over $300,000.

The funds are for the college’s expanding commercial driver’s license program. SCCC says they have partnered with Garden City Community College, providing instruction at their campus, and over the past year, they have nearly doubled the number of graduates from the program.

“We’ve been hard at work to expand our CDL program in response to the nationwide shortage of truck drivers,” says SCCC Dean of Career and Technical Education Dr. Amber Jones in a news release. “The grant from KDOT will enable us to accelerate and solidify our ability to train good drivers for the region’s industries.”

Garden City Schools change graduation dates

The college is receiving a total of $333,625 after they raised $111,875 in local matching funds. They also purchased land with an existing building for the program near the end of 2023.

“We want to support the regional economy through our CDL program, and provide a pipeline for success for our students,” says SCCC President Brad Bennett. “The partnership with Garden City is a first step. Our next move is opening the West Campus location in Liberal to grow the CDL program here and strengthen and expand our diesel technology program.”

The college will still be responsible for design and engineering costs, right-of-way, utilities, operations and maintenance, and other costs beyond the scope of the grant. For more about SCCC’s Commercial Driver’s License Program, click here.

For more about the Kansas Innovative Technology Program, click here.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.