Newport News trades center to power maritime workforce

Virginia Peninsula Community College is building a $9 million trades center in southeast Newport News that will prepare more than 400 students annually for maritime and construction jobs.

The 16,000-square-foot facility, which began construction in August 2025, is set to be completed in February and will begin offering programs in welding, structural fitting, marine electrical, residential electrical, HVAC and plumbing, and facilities maintenance in March.

Officials at VPCC, which already offers skilled trades programs at its main campus in Hampton and its Toano Trades Center in James City County, say the new center will address significant regional demand for employees in these sectors, as well as provide career opportunities. The center will be the college’s first to provide courses in structural fitting and plumbing. It is funded by a partnership with the college, the city, Newport News Economic Development Authority and the U.S. Navy’s Maritime Industrial Base Program, which leads efforts to revitalize U.S. shipbuilding and repair capabilities.

“It’s in our mission to serve our community through delivering the highest workforce development programs,” says Todd Estes, VPCC’s vice president of workforce development and innovation. “We want to train our folks and keep them in the community.”

The college worked closely with Newport News Shipbuilding to develop the courses, most of which will run two to 16 weeks. “A lot of the programs are designed for someone with absolutely no experience,” Estes adds. “Others are more advanced for people who are employed but want to upskill themselves.”

Located about two miles from NNS in a historically underserved area, the center will be a major benefit to the shipyard, says Tom Cosgrove, NNS’s director of workforce development. “We’re hiring record numbers of trades workers every year, and the trades center will produce a significant number of skilled workers for us and for our suppliers and partners to hire.”

Students completing welding, structural fitting and marine electrical programs will be prepared to work on all ship classes at the shipyard, Cosgrove adds.

According to the Hampton Roads Workforce Development Council, 40,000 maritime jobs need to be filled in the region over the next 10 years. “This creates opportunity for our citizens to meet the needs of future workforce demands,” says Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones. “It’s more than just a brick-and-mortar building. It’s a visible sign of hope and opportunity.”