VSU, four community colleges receive work-force training grants

Virginia State University and four of Virginia’s community colleges have received federal grants totaling $14 million for work-force training programs.

The grants, from the U.S. Department of Labor’s (US DOL) Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training initiative, will be used to provide training and credentialing in high-demand STEM-H (science, technology, engineering, mathematics and health) fields.

•  VSU received $3.2 million to provide training in the wireless industry for veterans, dislocated and underemployed workers.  The college will work to accelerate credential completion, implement new instruction models, bolster online and technology-enabled learning, implement apprenticeships, and offer Wireless Technician certificates and associate and baccalaureate degrees.

• Lord Fairfax Community College received $3.25 million to create Knowledge to Work, an educational search engine and online portal designed to help workers find free and low-cost learning resources tied to competencies and credentials, including badges, certificates and degrees.

•  Danville Community College received $2.5 million to incorporate workplace experiential learning in advanced manufacturing in an educational setting. The new program, Retooling America, focuses on realistic, fully integrated training experiences in a full-scale manufacturing facility.

• Southwest Virginia Community College received $2.5 million to provide training in advanced manufacturing and carpentry industries through the college’s PluggedIn VA.  PluggedIn VA is a program, which provides expedited paths through a GED, postsecondary education and job training to a high demand job.

• Thomas Nelson Community College received $2.5 million to work with regional employers and work-force organizations to develop and implement an education and training system to produce multi-skilled technicians in advanced manufacturing.

“These five new grant awards will drive industry driven STEM-H credentials, apprenticeships and on-the-job training to help build the skilled, high tech workforce for Virginia businesses and industry sectors” Gov. Terry McAuliffe said in a statement.  “This is another step forward towards my vision of a new Virginia economy, and I congratulate each of the colleges on their success.”