Only 17 out of roughly 100 young adults who entered Chester County OIC's workforce training programs in the past year held a valid Pennsylvania driver's license. That gap between trained workers and the jobs waiting in West Chester, Exton and Downingtown is what the Coatesville-based nonprofit is now attacking on multiple fronts.
Chester County OIC, which has served the region since 1979, launched a free driver's education program in partnership with the Chester County Intermediate Unit and Cantor Driving School. More than 150 young adults ages 18 to 24 have enrolled, and 85 percent have completed the course, according to VISTA.Today, which first reported the initiative on Aug. 20.
"Transportation is not separate from workforce development," CEO Javonna Wylie said. "For many people, the ability to get to training, an interview or work consistently can determine whether an opportunity is truly accessible."
OIC staff also walk students through the PennDOT Driver License Center process, handling required health and safety checks before they ever sit behind the wheel.
Beyond the license
A license alone doesn't solve the problem. Students preparing to buy a vehicle are connected with Open Hearth, a Pennsylvania nonprofit whose Family Savings Partner Program offers a 3:1 savings match for qualified adults 18 and older. Open Hearth CEO Kelly Raggazino said in the Aug. 20 announcement that the partnership aims to "help remove one of the most significant barriers to employment: reliable transportation."
Through a Seed and Scale grant from the Alliance for Health Equity, Open Hearth plans to open the auto purchasing program to 10 Coatesville residents over the next 12 months. The nonprofit also provides financial education and car repair assistance.
This year, Wylie awarded a vehicle to Takisha Paulino, a Chester County OIC alumna, as part of the organization's transportation commitment.
Buses and bikes fill the gaps
For students who aren't ready for car ownership, the Transportation Management Association of Chester County makes free ChesCo Bus passes available to OIC students. The SCCOOT route runs weekdays from Oxford to West Chester via Kennett Square. Without the free pass, a monthly fare runs $104.
At its 2026 Bigger than the Block Party event, Chester County OIC partnered with Giving Bikes Back to distribute more than 70 free bicycles to community members. OIC says PennDOT and SEPTA partnerships on additional transit solutions are also in the works.
Outreach coordinator Alicia Buchanan is the contact for students interested in the driver's education program or licensing support: [email protected].
Coming up
Chester County OIC hosts Digital Access Day on Thursday, Oct. 15, at 22 N. 5th Ave. in Coatesville, distributing up to 200 refurbished laptops starting at 3 p.m. A job fair runs from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
