Va. ranked No. 1 in customized workforce training by Business Facilities

The Virginia Talent Accelerator Program has taken the top spot in site selection industry publication Business Facilities’ ranking of states’ customized workforce training for the second year in a row.

Business Facilities is a magazine geared toward corporate site selectors and site selection consultants. The publication released on Monday the top states for a few categories in its 20th annual rankings report, although the full report won’t be available until its July/August 2024 issue. Texas won best business climate, and California took first place for the tech talent pipeline category.

The Virginia Talent Accelerator Program is a discretionary incentive program that provides free customizable workforce recruiting and training services for eligible businesses locating or expanding in Virginia. Launched in 2019, the program is a collaboration between the Virginia Economic Development Partnership and the Virginia Community College System. With company input, VCCS develops credential and industry certification programs to create a talent pipeline aimed at meeting future workforce needs after the VEDP program ends. 

“The breadth and speed with which this VEDP program begins to deliver for companies is a highlight that Business Facilities is pleased to recognize in this year’s ranking,” Business Facilities Editorial Director Anne Cosgrove said in a statement. “The capability to provide training for businesses across a variety of industries to meet their specific needs is a feature that stands out with the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program.”

Since its launch, the program has helped secure more than 13,000 jobs in Virginia, including for the Lego Group’s $1 billion manufacturing facility in Chesterfield County and Tyson Foods’ $300 million Danville-area facility in Ringgold. Northrop Grumman is participating in the program for its advanced electronics manufacturing and testing facility in Waynesboro, announced in November 2023. The Fortune 500 defense contractor started construction on the project, for which it expects to create 300 jobs, in February.

More recently, in June, Swiss humidification systems company Condair Group announced a $57.2 million facility in Chesterfield County, expected to create 180 jobs. It will participate in the talent accelerator for the project.

“The Virginia Talent Accelerator Program is a primary reason why so many companies choose to invest in Virginia instead of any other state,” VEDP President and CEO Jason El Koubi said in a statement. “Virginia’s customized approach is unique to each company’s needs. We determine priorities in close collaboration with company leaders and then deliver truly customized recruitment and training services to ensure their operation is successful from the startup phase to full operation.”

The states following Virginia in the customized workforce training rankings are Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, Missouri, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, Michigan and Arizona.

Gov. Glenn Youngkin said in a statement: “The Virginia Talent Accelerator Program enhances Virginia’s competitiveness to win major projects and is often the deciding factor on investment in Virginia. … Virginians are joining the workforce in record numbers, and it’s critically important to ensure our workforce development matches the needs of today while building a workforce for the future.”