SIDNEY, Neb. - Western Nebraska Community College is excited to announce the first Class A Commercial Driver's License class in Sidney, starting on April 7.

The expansion of the CDL program was made possible through a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, to help address the growing demand for skilled commercial drivers in the region.

"We're very excited to launch the CDL class in Sidney," WNCC Workforce Training Director Doug Mader said. "This program will help fill the vital need for more commercial drivers in the southern Panhandle. We want to thank all of our industry partners, Adams Industries and Floyd's Truck Centers, for helping develop our CDL program and securing training locations for future drivers."

The class will go from April 7 to May 15, with classes scheduled from 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday through Wednesday, and 8:00 - 11:00 a.m., on Thursdays. Classroom theory and simulator practice will be held on the WNCC Sidney Campus for the first two weeks, and the in-truck training will take place at Adams Industries (1655 Industrial Ave, Sidney) for the remainder of the class.

Tuition for the course is $4,950. Nebraska residents are eligible to have the training paid for through Gap Tuition Funding or the tuition assistance made possible through the Department of Labor grant. The financial assistance allows individuals to obtain a CDL for free while funding lasts.

In addition, WNCC is seeking to expand both Class A and Class B courses to the northern Panhandle, allowing for additional opportunities for potential students.