NEWPORT NEWS — Virginia Peninsula Community College will break ground on its newest workforce training facility in Newport News on Aug. 12.
The 16,000-square-foot Newport News Trades Center, located at 520 21st St., is designed to prepare more than 400 students each year for in-demand maritime and residential construction careers, the college said.
“This new facility is part of VPCC’s continued commitment to expanding training capacity to meet our region’s evolving talent needs and to support national defense readiness,” said Todd Estes, vice president for Workforce Development and Innovation at VPCC.
“We’re proud to be a partner in this effort, and we’re excited to help create a pipeline of skilled tradespersons to support the Navy’s shipbuilding goals and uplift our local construction workforce,” Estes added.
The project is funded through a partnership between VPCC, the Maritime Industrial Base and the City of Newport News. According to the college, the training center will offer hands-on programs in welding, marine electrical, structural fitting, coatings, electrical, HVAC, plumbing and facilities maintenance. The $9 million project is slated for completion in January 2026.
The new center is a short distance from Newport News Shipbuilding in what the college said is a historically underserved neighborhood. Estes added the location is not accidental, as the goal is to change and revitalize the community by connecting residents with the training needed for careers.
In 2024, VPCC received a $457,000 Advanced Manufacturing Talent Investment Program grant to equip the facility’s 20-booth welding lab with cutting-edge equipment. Additionally, the college said it will use fiscal 2025 and 2026 Workforce Pipeline funds to outfit labs in the new center, including a realistic multi-trade maritime mock-up that provides true-to-life training environments for students.
“This project clearly demonstrates what can be accomplished when partners come together to strengthen their communities. We are all excited about the future of the center and our continued work together,” he said.
Estes said the construction firm, W.M. Jordan Company, began site work this month and the new facility was designed by RRMM Architects.
The groundbreaking ceremony will take place Tuesday, Aug. 12, at 9:30 a.m.
