Patrick & Henry to expand heavy equipment instruction to Patrick County

Patrick County residents who want to learn about heavy machinery will have a chance to do so closer to home following Patrick & Henry Community College’s recent decision to expand its heavy equipment operation instruction to the county.

PHCC recently announced it had received a $176,267 grant earmarked for expanding heavy equipment operator coursework to the college’s Patrick County campus.

The grant comes from the Philip E. and Carol R. Ratcliffe Foundation. Based in Maryland and founded in 2003, the foundation advocates for expanding and stimulating local economies through education.

The foundation believes that expanding the same HEO training offered in Henry County to Patrick County could benefit the local economy in the coming years.

“We are pleased to partner with Patrick & Henry Community College to provide resources for the Heavy Equipment Operator Training program in Patrick County that will equip individuals with technical skills to meet the labor demands for the statewide road expansion and improvement projects,” said Carlene Cassidy, CEO of the Ratcliffe Foundation.

HEO training entails learning how to operate the types of heavy machinery used in infrastructure projects.

Last year, PHCC and local officials celebrated the opening of its Manufacturing, Engineering, and Technology Complex. HEO training is among the curriculum offered at the Martinsville facility.

According to the Virginia Employment Commission, around 10,000 people are employed as equipment operators.

“Having access to a pipeline of workers prepared to work as equipment operators will be an asset on numerous projects throughout the state,” said PHCC project executive Robbie Williams.

Rhonda Hodges, workforce vice president at the college, said the grant would be spent on simulators that will allow students to get experience before moving on to real-world machinery.

Hodges said there are multiple advantages to training with simulators, such as providing students with a safe, no impact environment to practice. Simulators also prevent injury and machine damage while allowing students experience in extreme situations.

Hodges also mentioned advantages simulators have in regards to reducing the environmental impact, compared to a traditional machine running while burning fossil fuels.

HEO classes will include orientation to the trade, heavy equipment safety, identification of heavy equipment, basic operational techniques, utility tractors, introduction to earthmoving, grades and forklift training.

The post Patrick & Henry to expand heavy equipment instruction to Patrick County appeared first on Cardinal News .