RICHMOND — Dr. David Doré, Chancellor for the Virginia Community College System (VCCS), says news of a $5 million Department of Labor award — the highest amount available — could not have come at a better time.
“Our colleges are poised to deliver the kind of 21st-century education Virginians need to secure gainful employment in today’s high-demand industries,” Doré noted. “And with the state focused on growing its economy and our emphasis on helping to fill the workforce gap, this funding will go a long way.”
The new funding, awarded through the Department of Labor’s Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program, will help VCCS to design, develop, and grow training programs and work-based learning opportunities that prepare job seekers for high-demand career pathways in the growing field of data center construction and operations, as well as the broadband expansion industry, it said.
The grant money will be used by seven of Virginia’s Community Colleges to expand training capacity and prepare workers in skilled labor roles, VCCS said.
“I am pleased to congratulate VCCS and all they collaborated with on this fantastic award as it will provide tremendous opportunities for Virginia’s businesses and workers,” Virginia’s Secretary of Labor, Bryan Slater, said. “This public-private collaboration between our workforce agencies and local employers is exactly what the commonwealth needs to continue to grow its economy and maintain its status as the best state to live, work, and raise a family.
“Coordinating workforce programs across Virginia state government is the key to success, and the VCCS is a committed collaborative partner in what we are doing in standing up the new Virginia Department of Workforce Development and Advancement,” he added
The Virginia Infrastructure Academy (VIA), now entering its second year of operations, will be one of the key beneficiaries of the grant, VCCS noted. Associate Vice Chancellor for Career Education and Workforce Programs Randy Stamper placed a special emphasis on broadband expansion.
“The workers trained in these technologies will be employed by the businesses that build data centers, and their skills will travel to other similar projects when other projects arise,” he explained.
VCCS said Amazon Web Services (AWS) provided support in the grant application process, including expertise on data center operations and workforce skills needs, and is collaborating with VCCS on programs related to skilled trades, fiber optics, and data center operations.
In collaboration with AWS, VCCS recently hosted an Information Infrastructure Workshop, a program that builds awareness of careers related to cloud infrastructure, it said, adding that AWS has also organized free Fiber Optic Fusion Splicing Trainings for community members, which are delivered through community colleges that are part of the VCCS network.
While the demand for skilled labor has fallen in recent months, Virginia still has nearly 200,000 job vacancies, according to VCCS. Doré suggests the numbers may fluctuate, but the commitment to Virginia’s business community remains the same.
“The demand for heavy-equipment operators, plumbers, welders, electricians, and power line workers is steadily increasing,” Doré observed. “It’s our job to provide the training employers need to remain competitive on a global stage and we intend to fulfill our obligations with enthusiasm.”
