COLUMBUS, Ohio — Councilmember Shayla Favor, Council President Shannon G. Hardin and community partners announced Thursday the launch of the Pathways to Purpose: Casey Goodson Jr. CDL Program.

Dedicated to Casey Goodson Jr., the new program aims to provide individuals with soft skills and commercial driver’s license training to help create a stable living environment through employment.

“There is a need both nationwide and in the central Ohio area for truck drivers,” said Favor. “We are incredibly honored to dedicate this program to Casey and his family.”

The city is dedicating $200,000 toward the Pathways to Purpose: Casey Goodson Jr. CDL program. Part of the funding will be used to cover the costs of tuition for dozens of participants receiving training through Roads2Work. The city is partnering with IMPACT Community Action and Capital Transportation Academy’s Roads2Work program to provide hard and soft skills training to aspiring drivers.

“I am proud to be in partnership with the City of Columbus and Capital Transportation to provide a career training program that has proven to be transformational and has created pathways from poverty to prosperity,” said Bo Chilton, CEO at IMPACT Community Action. “We will strive to honor Casey’s memory by providing this opportunity in his name after his life was tragically cut short before he could realize his aspirations to obtain his commercial driver license.”

Columbus and Capital Transportation officials had the following comments on the program:

“All our young people deserve an opportunity to get the skills and credentials necessary for a good-paying job,” said Hardin. “This new program is another great option for folks in Columbus looking for a career to support their family.”

“Roads2Work is excited to be the CDL training partner for the Pathway to Purpose: Casey Goodson, Jr. CDL training program,” said Richard Crockett, President and CEO of Capital Transportation, Inc. “We look forward to honoring Mr. Goodson by ensuring program participants obtain in-demand career skills and transportation industry employment in the Central Ohio community.”

“This program provides an opportunity for more potential employees to receive their CDLs and increase the number of operators hired by the Department of Public Service to deliver essential services,” said Public Service Director Jennifer L. Gallagher.

“It is imperative that we create workforce development opportunities for vulnerable and underrepresented populations," said Favor. “This program will not only alleviate the recent CDL driver shortage, but it will also ensure that there are job possibilities in Columbus for people of all backgrounds.”

Legislation authorizing the use of the funds will be presented to Columbus City Council in the coming weeks.