MDCC’s Capps Center Pre-Apprenticeship Program Produces Two Classes of Graduates, All Receive Job Offers
Mississippi Delta Community College’s (MDCC) Capps Center celebrated the first graduating class of its new pre-apprenticeship construction program with a signing ceremony on Thursday, Feb. 5, at the MDCC Greenville Higher Education Center (GHEC). All eleven students who completed the four-week program received job offers from The Industrial Company (TIC), starting at $20 per hour.
The program, which ran from Jan. 5 to Feb. 5 at the new career-technical education building at the GHEC, introduces trainees to the fundamentals of construction using the NCCER (National Center for Construction Education and Research) Core curriculum. Upon satisfactory completion, students earn the nationally recognized NCCER Core Certification and an interview with TIC, the contractor building the Delta Blues Advanced Power Station in Greenville for Entergy.
“Workforce development is a team sport, and this training program is a prime example,” said Douglas Freeze, MDCC vice president of workforce and economic development. “With TIC’s workforce needs as the driving force, our partners have come together with MDCC to offer the community a high-quality training program that leads to in-demand careers. We are moving forward together.”
This transformative program was made possible through a strategic partnership that connected state resources to local action. Funding was provided by the State of Mississippi’s Office of Workforce Development (Accelerate MS) through its Reconnect Grant program to the South Delta Planning and Development District. Meanwhile, the Greenville WIN Job Center ensured program readiness by identifying and preparing candidates through application management, screening and resume support.
“All eleven participants completed the program, and all eleven received job offers starting at $20 per hour,” said Mitzi Woods, workforce director at the South Delta Planning and Development District. “We are deeply grateful to AccelerateMS for responding to this need and providing the funding that made this training possible. Workforce development in the Delta is essential for supporting companies that want to locate or expand here, and this program demonstrates that we have a ready workforce when given the opportunity.”
The program’s success continued with a second graduating class recognized during a ceremony held March 5 at 10 a.m. at the MDCC Greenville Higher Education Center. Eleven additional students completed the training, and each received job offers from TIC.
During the ceremony, Ron Duce, Entergy Program HR Director for TIC, praised the graduates for their dedication and perseverance.
“Today you proved that you can commit, you proved that you can learn, you proved that you can finish,” Duce told the students. “That combination is exactly what this industry needs.”
Graduates from both classes were recognized and received their certificates from instructor Ruben Woods and Vice President Freeze. The Capps Center plans to continue offering the program regularly to help meet the growing demand for skilled workers in the region, with the goal of hosting one class per month moving forward.
The program underscores MDCC’s commitment to creating direct, collaborative pathways to high-wage employment, meeting critical industry needs and fostering economic growth in the Mississippi Delta.
