Registration for the course is currently open. It starts with an online theory-based portion that is self-paced. The road and range portion of the test will take place in October.

A commercial driver’s license allows the holder to operate vehicles such as straight trucks, dump trucks, box trucks and large passenger buses.

“It’s really exciting to have it here,” said Susan Moll, K12 Pathways and Community Impact coordinator, adding that before this, students would have to take the road test in Green Bay.

She said the area had a need for the class.

The Northeast Wisconsin Technical College site in Aurora, Wis., is offering residents the opportunity to earn their Wisconsin Class B Commercial driver's license. (Marguerite Lanthier/Daily News photo)

“We’re offering more opportunities and offering high-demand job opportunities for people so they get that training, to pursue a career in driving,” she said. “It’s the first step to getting your semi driving license.”

Students may qualify for funding for the training through the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, Moll added.

It’s the latest adjustment the NWTC Aurora site has made to meet education, training and other needs of area communities.

NWTC’s Corporate Training and Economic Development Team has various contracts with different organizations in the area, so they are able to partner with businesses to offer classes and training.

“For example, System Control, they’re doing an intermediate algebra course here and plus at their location. They graduated 13 who received their power certificate in January,” Moll said.

WE Energies uses the building for some training. The site partners with Maryhill Manor of Niagara, Wis., for CPR training.

The Aurora site also provides an in-person nursing assistance course, which had nine graduates. They teach in-person CPR every other year and host EMT training to support local EMS operations, Moll added.

“Other things we do for our students, we offer testing. Any student taking online classes or classes at other campuses can take their tests in Aurora,” she said. “If just starting out, they can take their placement test there as well.”

That can avoid a three-hour round trip drive to Green Bay, Moll noted.

They also do testing for students to get started in the GED program. NWTC can partners with local high schools to get transcripted credits, in which instructors are approved to teach college course in high school, so students don’t have to go off campus.

“It’s at no cost to the school district or the student. They earn dual credits,” she said.

Students enrolled at NWTC can utilize quiet spaces at the local site to complete projects or for studying. Students sign up for access to the building, even during evening hours.

“Students that may have internet difficulties or technology difficulties, we loan them out a laptop for the semester if they are in a program,” she said.

Since moving into the former Hillcrest Elementary School in Aurora, NWTC has strived to be an important part of the community, Moll said.

They have the Woodland Kitchen — a commercial, well-equipped kitchen available for rent that is used by nine entrepreneurs.

The Aging and Disability Resource Center provides meals to seniors five days a week. The building has a gym, cafe and pop-up shop that can be rented by community members as well.

The campus is also the site of the Food, Fun & Fitness program operated by the Florence County School District, as well as the National Nite Out event.

“I’m K12 Pathway coordinator. I work with area high schools. I’m also Community Impact coordinator, so I’m out in the community more, just listening to people, wanting to understand what they want, what their needs are, what their concerns are and then I bring them back to the appropriate people to connect with. I’m kind of the ambassador of NWTC,” Moll said.

“I just hope that our communities are getting what they are hoping for and if they’re not I want them to reach out and contact me. I’m here to listen to their voice and hear their voice,” Moll said.

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Marguerite Lanthier can be reached at 906-774-3500, ext. 85242, or mlanthier@ironmountaindailynews.com.