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 awa...
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