To: Delrico J. Loyd, Governmental Operations Committee Chairperson
From: Christopher R. Swanson, Sheriff
title
RE: Approval of a request by Genesee County’s Sheriff’s Office for the purchase of a Virage Truck Driving Simulator, in the amount of $155,612.00, to expand workforce development for the Genesee County Jail IGNITE course offerings; the purchase is to be paid for from the GIVE grant account #2642-351.01-978.000 and is no cost to the general fund
recommendation
BOARD ACTION REQUESTED:
Purchase of Virage truck driving simulator in the amount of $155,612.00 to expand workforce development for the Genesee County Jail IGNITE course offerings. The purchase is to be paid for from the GIVE grant account # and is no cost to the general fund.
BACKGROUND:
The Genesee County Jail IGNITE program is focused on providing real-life workforce skills to inmates in order to provide hope and opportunity while incarcerated and upon release back to the community. This CDL simulator would provide IGNITE participants with hands-on training that would prepare them to receive their CDL license and enter into a true career that provides long-term employment opportunities with livable wages.
DISCUSSION:
A core mission of I.G.N.I.T.E. is to break the cycle of generational incarceration through meaningful education. Providing high-demand, specialized trade skills gives returning citizens a viable path to immediate, high-wage employment upon Re-Entry. I.G.N.I.T.E. already utilizes virtual reality for introductory CDL, electrical, and carpentry training. Transitioning to a full-scale, dedicated simulator like the VS600M bridges the gap between conceptual learning and institutional, real-world readiness. The VS600M is specifically engineered as a heavy truck training simulator for schools, making it the ideal asset to advance the jail's vocational capabilities. The simulator allows student-inmates to master complex driving mechanics, transmission shifting, and spatial awareness across diverse, simulated weather conditions and hazardous road environments. This ensures mastery of critical safety protocols before they ever step into a live vehicle. The system includes structured driver training, automated evaluation scenarios, and comprehensive progress reports. This data allows I.G.N.I.T.E. coordinators to provide verifiable, objective skill assessments to regional commercial driving employers. Implementing the VS600M allows the Sheriff's Office to provide comprehensive commercial driver training entirely within the secure footprint of the Genesee County facility, eliminating the security risks, transport costs, and staff oversight required for off-site vocational training. Access to premium workforce training serves as a strong behavioral management tool. I.G.N.I.T.E.'s focus on hope and advancement has historically driven a 97% reduction in internal jail violence; adding a highly coveted asset like a full-scale truck simulator will further reinforce positive behavior and program compliance. The manufacturer's proposal guarantees comprehensive software error corrections and the repair or replacement of hardware components under normal operations, protecting the county's capital investment. The system features remote access, phone, and email support. Technicians can connect remotely to update the software and perform diagnostic verifications as if they were on-site, ensuring the training program remains continuous without requiring constant, costly on-site IT calls. Filling local commercial driving vacancies with skilled, certified returning citizens directly combats regional labor shortages while slashing county recidivism rates. With over hundreds of students enrolled and the program actively spreading to dozens of law enforcement agencies nationwide, investing in top-tier simulator technology secures Genesee County's position at the forefront of modern, data-driven correctional reform.
IMPACT ON HUMAN RESOURCES:
none
IMPACT ON BUDGET:
The cost of the Virage Truck Driving Simulator is $155,612.00. This cost includes two (2) years of support and warranty, on-site set-up, and training. The purchase would be made using GIVE grant funds from account # 2642-351.01-978.000 with no cost to the general fund budget. Virage has a contract with Sourcewell, ensuring the lowest pricing for government entities and eliminating the need for multiple quotes.
IMPACT ON FACILITIES:
Assistance with coordinating the set-up and installation with the contractor.
IMPACT ON TECHNOLOGY:
Assistance with coordinating the set-up and installation with the contractor.
CONFORMITY TO COUNTY PRIORITIES:
Healthy, Livable, and Safe Communities: It enhances public safety by ensuring student-inmates master hazardous driving conditions and spatial awareness in a zero-risk, controlled environment before release. Furthermore, expanding high-tier I.G.N.I.T.E. programming supports the institutional safety gains (like the 97% reduction in internal violence) already achieved within the facility. Community Growth & Economic Opportunities: It creates an immediate workforce pipeline into high-wage, high-demand commercial driving positions, directly addressing critical labor shortages in Mid-Michigan and providing an off-ramp from systemic poverty for low-income and returning populations. Inclusive, Collaborative Culture: It advances modern criminal justice reform by replacing simple detention with real, compassionate rehabilitation-leveling the educational playing field and reducing the barriers individuals face when re-entering society. Long-Term Financial Stability: The equipment prevents recurring county expenditures by actively lowering recidivism rates. Additionally, the manufacturer's robust warranty and remote IT diagnostic capabilities protect the county's capital investment without burdening local staff.
resolution
TO THE HONORABLE CHAIRPERSON AND MEMBERS OF THE GENESEE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, GENESEE COUNTY, MICHIGAN
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:
BE IT RESOLVED, by this Board of County Commissioners of Genesee County, Michigan, that the request by the Office of Genesee County Sheriff to authorize the purchase contract of a truck driving simulator between Genesee County and Virage Simulation, whereby the vendor will be providing the VS600M simulator, including two (2) years of warranty and technical assistance, at a total cost to the County not to exceed $155,612.00, funding to be provided by the GIVE grant and paid from account #2642-351.01-978.000, is approved (a copy of the memorandum request and supporting documents being on file with the official records of the July 15, 2026 meeting of the Governmental Operations Committee of this Board), and the Chairperson of this Board is authorized to execute the necessary contract documents on behalf of Genesee County.