KISSIMMEE, Fla. — One year after launching its construction workforce training initiative in Kissimmee, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announced that more than 250 people have completed the Moving I-4 Forward Construction Training Program, helping build the skilled workforce needed to support one of Central Florida’s largest transportation improvement projects.

The six-week Florida Transportation Academy Construction Training Program was created to prepare participants for careers in the construction industry while helping meet the growing demand for skilled workers as the Moving I-4 Forward Program continues across Central Florida.

The program combines four weeks of classroom instruction with heavy equipment simulator training before participants choose between earning a Class B Commercial Driver License (CDL) or entering the construction workforce. FDOT also partners with private industry to help graduates secure full-time employment after completing the program.

One of those graduates is Shaquille Brown, who now works as a ready-mix truck driver with Preferred Materials.

“This program changed my life,” Brown said. “Thanks to the Kissimmee Construction Training Program, I now have an incredible job at Preferred Materials as a ready-mix truck driver. This job wouldn’t have been possible without the licensing and certifications I received.”

FDOT officials say the program is designed to create lasting career opportunities while strengthening the workforce needed to deliver major infrastructure improvements throughout the region.

“By providing hands-on training and real-world experience, this program is equipping students with the skills and confidence they need to be successful in high-demand construction positions,” said Will N. Watts Jr., P.E., FDOT Chief Operations Officer and Assistant Secretary. “Our graduates are creating long-term careers, and we are helping to build a skilled workforce that will shape our communities for years to come.”

To further expand hands-on learning opportunities, FDOT is constructing a new multi-use training track in Kissimmee that will provide participants with practical heavy equipment experience and additional preparation for state licensing. The facility is expected to become operational later this month.

Classes are held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Kissimmee training center.

The workforce development initiative supports the broader Moving I-4 Forward Program, a multi-billion-dollar effort to improve Interstate 4 from west of U.S. 27 in Polk County to east of State Road 536 in Orange County. The project includes new congestion relief lanes, expanded express lanes, and upgraded interchanges and bridges, with completion anticipated by the summer of 2031.

FDOT officials say the improvements are intended to reduce traffic congestion, improve safety, strengthen regional connectivity, and support Central Florida’s continued economic growth while creating a more efficient transportation network for residents, commuters, and visitors alike.

Programa de Capacitación de FDOT Celebra Su Primer Año Tras Preparar a Más de 250 Trabajadores en Kissimmee

KISSIMMEE, Florida. — El Departamento de Transporte de Florida (FDOT) celebra el primer aniversario de su Programa de Capacitación en Construcción Moving I-4 Forward en Kissimmee, donde más de 250 personas han recibido preparación para incorporarse a la fuerza laboral que impulsa importantes proyectos de infraestructura en el centro de Florida.

El programa de seis semanas de la Florida Transportation Academy ofrece instrucción en el aula, entrenamiento con simuladores de maquinaria pesada y la oportunidad de obtener una licencia comercial Clase B (CDL). Además, FDOT trabaja con empresas del sector para ayudar a los graduados a conseguir empleo de tiempo completo.

Uno de esos graduados es Shaquille Brown, quien actualmente trabaja como conductor de camiones de concreto para Preferred Materials.

“Este programa cambió mi vida,” expresó Brown. “Gracias al Programa de Capacitación en Construcción de Kissimmee, hoy tengo un excelente empleo como conductor de camión de concreto. Este trabajo no habría sido posible sin las licencias y certificaciones que obtuve.”

FDOT también está finalizando una nueva pista de entrenamiento en Kissimmee que permitirá a los participantes adquirir experiencia práctica con equipo pesado. Se espera que las instalaciones entren en funcionamiento este mes.

“Al ofrecer capacitación práctica y experiencia en el mundo real, este programa brinda a los estudiantes las habilidades y la confianza necesarias para tener éxito en puestos de construcción de alta demanda,” señaló Will N. Watts Jr., director de Operaciones y subsecretario de FDOT.