SCDOT will develop partnerships with organizations to implement school-to-work employment programs with the goal of enhancing employment opportunities within the fields of construction, planning, emerging technologies, engineering, and transportation. During the right-of-way acquisition phase, SCDOT will seek to hire up to twenty (20) high school or college students, or young adults 25 years of age or younger from the impacted neighborhoods to work as summer interns.
High school and college students from the EJ neighborhoods that will be displaced and relocated by the proposed project would remain eligible for participation in the School-to-Work program. The School-to-Work Program began in 2023 and will end once twenty (20) students have participated in the program.
The School-to-Work (STW) and Careers in Transportation Education (CiTE) programs will be offered to residents in the neighborhoods identified in the maps below.
Program Features
Workforce Development:
– Equip students with in-demand skills through classroom instruction and on-the-job training.
– Build career pathways that may lead to certification and full-time employment post-graduation.
Apprenticeship Placement:
– Students will participate in paid apprenticeships that offer both classroom and on-site training.
– Apprenticeships will be available in construction, engineering, electrical work, and more.
– The program may begin in the junior year, extending into the senior year.
Internships:
– Summer internships for high school and college students (and young adults up to age 25) to gain full-time work experience in the transportation or construction industry.
– Interns will be placed with SCDOT or contractors working on the I-526 Lowcountry Corridor WEST Improvement Project.
Certification and Job Placement:
– Apprenticeships will culminate in certifications, preparing students for potential full-time employment with industry partners.