This summer, BDCC hosted a four-day Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) Bootcamp pilot program for High School students. BDCC partnered with Vermont Adult Learning previously on CDL Bootcamps for New American adults, including English Language support, but this was the first program BDCC has run exclusively for a high school or recent graduate audience.
The program consisted of an overview of CDL, including the difference between CDL A and CDL B licenses, types of jobs available, what training is available in our region, and what resources are available to pay for training. The participants had the opportunity to visit Northeast Driver Training, a CDL training facility in Chester, to meet with Todd West, the owner, and explore the facility.
A representative from Brattleboro’s local Vermont Department of Labor (VDOL), whose Workforce Development division has resources to pay for CDL training programs, visited the class and met with the participants.
The program ran from July 28 – July 31, 2025, from 3pm-5pm. There were 5 participants from 3 schools, 3 of whom had recently graduated high school, and 2 who were entering their senior year. All 5 participants completed the program.
At the end of the Bootcamp, participants had the opportunity to have assistance scheduling a CDL permit appointment with the DMV and two participants did. By the end of October, both participants had received their CDL permits and have been referred to VDOL and VSAC (Vermont Student Assistance Corporation which also funds workforce and trades training). They plan to enroll in Northeast Driver Training in early 2026, seeking their full CDL A license. Age limits prevented 2 of the participants from pursuing their CDL permits yet, but at least one of them plans to move forward when they turn 18.
About the Workforce Center of Excellence
The Workforce Center of Excellence (WFCoE) is an employer-driven workforce and career training and education initiative of Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC). The WFCoE leverages BDCC’s relationships with employers and workforce development partners, supporting both sides of the labor exchange to connect people with opportunity, and employers with the talent they need. The WFCoE is funded in part by a Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities (WORC) grant from the Northern Borders Regional Commission and US Department of Labor’s Employment & Training Administration (ETA).
About BDCC
Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation (BDCC) is a private, nonprofit economic development organization with the mission of investing in the drivers of the regional economy so that people, businesses, and communities in Southern Vermont can thrive. In addition to its private nonprofit leadership role in regional business acceleration and expansion programs and projects, economic, workforce and community development programming, BDCC also serves as the State of Vermont’s certified Regional Development Corporation (RDC) for the greater Windham County area (including Windham County and the towns of Readsboro, Searsburg, Winhall and Weston). BDCC is one of 12 RDCs throughout Vermont. BDCC’s activity is made possible in part by a grant from the State of Vermont through the Agency of Commerce and Community Development. For more information visit: https://brattleborodevelopment.com/
