Workforce Investment Board
Created in 1996 through an act of the Vermont State Legislature (VT H429), WIBs were formed to be the voice of business in the areas of education and training. The WIB is a 501C3 organization. The Board of Directors is comprised 50% of business leaders and 50% of educational and community service organization leaders.
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Making Connections!
SUPPORTING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION THROUGHOUT THE RUTLAND REGION
The Rutland Region Workforce Investment Board was founded in 1996 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit coordinating body, connecting educators and employers with the goal of building pathways from local schools to local jobs.
The Rutland Regional Planning Commission helped start the Board in 1996 and has been a partner of the organization since 2019. For more information on the Board’s current events and programs, please reach out to the program lead.
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For Agendas, Minutes, and Meeting Materials
Calling all employers of trades personnel - Register today!
The Rutland Region Workforce Investment Board (RRWIB) and the Chamber and Economic Development of the Rutland Region (CEDRR) are pleased to host the Workforce in Motion Breakfast: Moving from Planning to Progress.
About: Join us for a power-packed breakfast bringing together Rutland County’s top employers. Following the success of Bring Back the Trades, learn how we are moving from planning to progress to connect employers with highly skilled employees. Hear more about how our paid training programs are helping businesses like yours build the workforce of tomorrow.
Event Details: December 4, 2025, from 7:30 to 9:00 am at the Southside Steakhouse (170 Main Street, Rutland)
Event Highlights:
- Bring Back the Trades 2026
- The Education to Employment Bridge Program
- Connecting Employers to Job Ready Program Participants
EARLY REGISTRATION AVAILABLE NOW!
(please contact Russ Marsan for additional information [email protected])
Do you want to land a high paying job without a college degree?
The Education to Employment Bridge Program (EEBP) will prepare you to choose your own destination!
Those successfully completing one of the following programs will be prepared to build a career in Nursing, The Construction and Building Trades, Commercial Driving, Heat Pump and Weatherization, and/or Independent Contracting. Anyone with a high school diploma or a GED can apply for this free, paid training to launch an exciting new career!
Some students will be additionally eligible* for:
- Childcare reimbursements during class time
- Transportation to and from classes
- A stipend payment upon completion
- Additional certification/licensure
* based on program guidelines and resources.
Continue reading to learn more about the paths to a more financially stable future.
Program Details and Eligibility
The following training programs are FREE to students. Space is limited in each session so if you are interested, don’t wait to apply.
Some programs include special offers, flexible scheduling, additional certifications and credentials.
Learn more about each of the programs below!
LICENSED NURSING ASSISTANT (LNA)
Training Length: 10 weeks
Eligibility: High School Diploma or G.E.D. Admission Deadline: Rolling Admissions
Training Goal: This in-depth training program qualifies graduates for employment in hospitals, long-term care, and home health.
Training Details:
This 150-hour program combines classroom, lab, and clinical experience.
Teaches essential caregiving, patient safety, and basic nursing procedures.
Students successfully completing this program are prepared to test for Vermont’s Board of Nursing (LNA) Licensure.
Earned Certificates:
CPR, AED.
Who should apply:
Adults and high school students seeking entry-level healthcare roles.
TRAINING PROVIDED BY:
HEAT PUMP & WEATHERIZATION
Training Length: 4 weeks
Eligibility: Minimum Age Requirement = 18 Admission Deadline: Spring/Fall Classes
Training Goal:
Workforce training for energy-efficiency and HVAC careers.
Training Details:
• Combines classroom instruction with handson experience.
• Heat Pump training: safety, installation, EPA 608.
• Weatherization training: insulation, air sealing, ventilation, and moisture control.
• Build credentials recognized by regional employers and energy contractors.
Earned Certificates:
CPR/AED/First Aid/Stop the
Bleed, OSHA-10, EPA 608
Special Provisions:
Qualified stipends (up to $1,400) plus support for childcare and transportation.
Employment-ready graduates are connected to hiring partners in Vermont’s green workforce.
TRAINING PROVIDED BY:
Construction 101
Training Length: 6 weeks
Eligibility: Minimum Age Requirement = 18 Admission Deadline: December
Training Goal:
• Prepare graduates for a career in the construction industry.
Earned Credentials:
Includes NCCER hand and power tool, OSHA-10, and ReSOURCE PPD credentials.
Training Details:
• Six-week, hands-on introduction to the building trades.
• Curriculum covers tool use, construction safety, and applied building projects.
First 2 weeks: foundational tool training and career readiness activities.
Mid-program: framing, wiring, and small structure construction projects.
Final 2 weeks: workbased learning with local construction employers.
Students successfully completing this program have high placement rates (=98%) into construction, maintenance, or trade jobs.
TRAINING PROVIDED BY: ReSOURCE Vermont
COMMERCIAL DRIVER’S LICENSE (CDL)
Training Length: 12 weeks
Eligibility: Minimum Age Required= 18 Admission Deadline: Rolling Admissions
Training Goal:
Comprehensive CDL-A/B preparation program approved by Vermont DMV.
Who should apply:
Adults seeking trucking, logistics, or public works careers.
Training Details:
• Combines classroom instruction with behind-the-wheel road and yard training.
• Covers vehicle operation, safety, inspections, and federal driving regulations.
• Includes test preparation for CDL skills and written exams.
Special Provisions: Day and weekend scheduling (flexible entry format).
Students successfully completing this program are ready to test for a CDL-A or CDL-B license required for professional driving careers.
TRAINING PROVIDED BY: Stafford Technical Center
Build Rutland
Training Length: 4 weeks
Eligibility: High School Diploma or G.E.D. Admission Deadline: Summer
Training Goal: Introduction to multiple trades.
• Earn NCCER Construction Core and OSHA 10 Construction certifications recognized by industry employers.
• Learn core construction concepts through classroom instruction and hands-on lab applications.
• Gain a practical introduction to basic construction skills including safety, tool use, and workplace readiness.
• Explore foundational concepts in the electrical and plumbing trades, with guided lab practice.
• Apply classroom learning to real-world tasks in a supervised lab setting.
• Develop the entry-level skills and credentials most sought by Vermont’s construction employers.
• Build confidence to continue into advanced trade training or entry-level employment.
TRAINING PROVIDED BY: Stafford Technical Center
INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR
Training Length:
Eligibility: Continuing Education Admission Deadline: TBD
Training Goal:
• Helps trades professionals transition into self-employed or subcontractor roles.
• Covers business setup, licensing, and insurance basics.
• Teaches cost estimating, pricing, and bid writing for jobs and contracts.
• Includes financial management for 1099 income— budgeting, invoicing, and taxes.
• Builds marketing and client relationship skills for sustainable work pipelines.
• Emphasizes safety, compliance, and risk management in independent operations.
TRAINING PROVIDED BY:
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Planning Now, for a Stronger Tomorrow
