Good-paying jobs were elusive for Young-Ben Davis in his hometown of Gallup, New Mexico.

He wanted to be able to provide for his family and knew he needed something better than his job washing tractor-trailer rigs at a truck stop.

Davis and his family moved to Tulsa about four years ago to be closer to his wife’s family and with the hope of finding better work. What he found was a program that provided him free training and job placement in a career that has seen his pay increase nearly 70 percent.

Tulsa Community WorkAdvance, a program that connects low-income job seekers with high-demand sectors of employment, provides free training and job placement assistance for the under- and unemployed.....

.....Existing training opportunities are modified to meet employer needs quickly, and unemployed and underemployed clients are provided training at no cost to them.

Training typically lasts six weeks to five months, depending on the career path.

Clients are provided all the necessary tools and books as well as gas cards or bus passes for transportation to and from school.

They are also provided intensive career-readiness services, including interview skills, resume building, critical thinking and how to handle constructive feedback on the job.....

.....The program boasts graduation and job placement percentages of more than 80 percent.....

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