Peninsula College was recently awarded more than $880,000 to expand its Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) course and to provide expanded aid to students in the program, college officials announced last week.

The funds were awarded by the state Board for Community and Technical Colleges following a competitive grant process.

“Several industry partners have asked us to expand our CDL training,” Camilla Rico, director of community education and campus enterprises, said in a press release.

“With the addition of the ‘Commercial Drivers License and Related Instructional Programs Fund (CDL Fund),’ PC will be able to significantly increase CDL enrollment and therefore prepare more students for trucking and trucking-related supply chain industry jobs in the area,” Rico said.

The funding will also allow Peninsula College to provide tuition assistance to students with financial need who have exhausted funds or don’t qualify for other sources such as the Washington Innovation and Opportunity Act, Basic Food Employment and Training, or Peninsula College Foundation.

“With CDL Fund support, we can increase enrollment from 40 students to 130 plus students per year while providing expanded tuition assistance,” Rico said.