In the heart of Laclede County, Missouri, two young men found a shared path that would lead them into meaningful careers with life-changing results. Austin Rogers and Drew Rogers, first cousins and graduates of Stoutland High School, both completed CDL training at Clement Truck Driving Academy in Lebanon. With the support of the EDA Good Jobs Challenge Grant, they didn’t just land jobs—they launched careers.
Both cousins graduated from high school together in May 2024. They quickly took advantage of a rare opportunity through the Quadra-Regional Workforce Alliance, a statewide partnership supported by the $17.5 million Economic Development Administration Good Jobs Challenge Grant.
Part of the program, administered in the Central Region by the Central Workforce Development Board, is designed to train and place individuals across 51 Missouri counties in in-demand sectors like transportation, healthcare, logistics, and education services. The Central Region covers 19 counties.
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Their decisions paid off quickly.
- Drew Rogers increased his wages from $18.00 to $25.00 an hour after completing CDL training and securing full-time employment in the trucking industry.
- Austin Rogers saw his hourly pay rise from $20.00 to $28.00 after earning his CDL and entering the workforce.
But their success didn’t stop with just a pay raise or a job title. Both young men returned to the Lebanon Job Center—not to ask for help, but to offer it. They referred friends to the same CDL training program that had changed their own lives. Those friends are now fully employed in CDL careers as well, proving that workforce development isn’t just about economic growth—it’s about building stronger communities, one connection at a time.
The Rogers cousins are a real-life example of what happens when access meets action. With the right training, resources, and support, young people in Missouri are achieving upward mobility and helping others do the same.
For the Central Workforce Development Region, their story is more than a highlight—it’s a reflection of the very purpose behind the Good Jobs Challenge: to create a stronger, more equitable pipeline of skilled workers in communities that need it most.
Way to go, Austin & Drew!