Central Alabama Community College's Talladega campus has just begun a lineworker training program this week, and the class's first 15 students are already well on their way to learning the ins and outs of the profession.
New student James Stone of Talladega said, "It's going to be hard work, but they say there's a big demand for (lineworkers), and that's what got me interested in the program."
Fellow student Drew Willis of Pell City said the job opportunities that could be available after he completes his training attracted him to the lineworker program as well.
"Our instructor said there are a bunch of jobs, probably not around this vicinity, but if you're willing to travel," Willis said. "I believe we'll all be looking at pretty secure jobs."
CACC Director of Workforce Development Dr. Jason Hurst has high hopes the lineworker program will get local people quality jobs, which are at a premium in a slow economy.
"We had a very big response (from people interested in the class). As a matter of fact, we have a waiting list for the next class we're going to do," Hurst said.
Job opportunities are available with employers such as power companies, cooperatives and the government with many lineworkers soon to reach retirement age.
"They would do electrical lineworking. These are the people that would install the poles, run the lines, do repair work. These are the people who go out after storms — tornadoes, hurricanes, snow storms, ice storms — and do general maintenance," Hurst said.
The program is seven weeks, and students are working 10 hours a day for four days a week for a total workweek of 40 hours. When the program ends in late August, Hurst estimated there would be a six to eight week break before the next set of students started the program.
Hurst said, "When they leave this program, they are going to be OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) certified; they're going to be CPR and first-aid certified; they're going to be digger derrick (truck) certified; bucket truck certified; they're going to be climbing qualified because they're going through our climbing school."
He added the students should also be prepared to take their Class A CDL license test by the end of the program as well, so they can drive the equipment.
CACC is in a consortium with two other community colleges in the state — Calhoun in Decatur and Wallace in Dothan — and all three received a grant worth $62,500 to start the lineworker program. Hurst said he believes CACC is the only one of the three to offer training on digging holes and setting the power poles.
Because of the grant, CACC was able to buy the equipment and offer half tuition to the first class which lowered the costs for the students from $3,500 to $1,750.
"Many of our students qualified for WIA funds, that's Workforce Investment Act money, through the Talladega Career Center next door because they were either laid off from their jobs or their companies shut down," Hurst said. "Over half of our students didn't pay a dime because the government provides opportunities for people to go back to school if they are a displaced worker."
Hurst also thanked the county commission and County Administrator Wayne Hall for leasing to CACC the land to do this training.
The training is being done on land adjoining the Talladega County Health Department, and Hurst said the location, next to Haynes Street, provides the program with great publicity since it is easily visible from the busy street.
There are many important aspects to the program, but one student quickly realized that, above all, lineworkers provide a service for people and communities.
"You get to help people, you know what I mean?" new student Joshua Crabtree said.
"You keep their lights on so people don't have to go without power. I had never looked at it that way, and I think that's pretty cool."
For more information about the lineworker program contact CACC at 256-480-2066.
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