HAMPTON — Virginia Peninsula Community College partnered with the Greater Williamsburg Movement numerous times last summer for workforce information sessions, and things went so well that they are teaming up again.
This time it’s for an 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. lunch-and-learn session Saturday, July 20, at the
VPCC’s Trades Center in Toano.
The focus is on marine skilled trades, manufacturing trades, transportation (CDL), allied health, and information technology (cybersecurity).
Charlie Williams, the initiative manager for the Greater Williamsburg Movement’s Project
InSPire, said the session will be a good way to illustrate what falls under the career technical education umbrella as many don’t know. While they often think of intense manual labor, there’s so much more.
“There’s cybersecurity, there’s plumbing, there’s carpentry,” he said. “There’s so many
things if you are so gifted that you can start into.”
Prospective students also often have a misconception about the cost, but it’s possible to
attend for almost nothing, according to VPCC. Many of the skilled trades classes offered through the Workforce Development Center are sponsored by a program called Fast Forward, which automatically pays one-third of the cost for eligible Virginia residents. Other factors can reduce the cost even more.
“You could literally go and get started in a good career for peanuts,” said Williams, a
retired businessman with a skilled trades background.
Williams’ group is providing a box lunch, knowing that can be a great incentive.
“I’m just trying to bring to the community understanding and information for options,” Williams said. “There’s a great deal of opportunities out here for young people as well as people who want to work and start a career.”
Eddie Swain, director of operations for Workforce Development at the college, said he
hopes to have regularly scheduled events in the Williamsburg area.
The VPCC Trades Center is located at 236 Industrial Blvd. in Toano.
Those interested can RSVP and register here. For more information on the event, call 757-825-4070 or email wfdinq@vpcc.edu.
