TOANO — The Virginia Peninsula Community College Trades Center in Toano will hold its first day of class — for its Welding Certification Program — on Feb. 20.
The new location is just off Route 60, at 236 Industrial Blvd. in Toano, upper James City County. The site is owned by David Johnson Builders, which handled the renovations and offers 7,800 square feet of training space, according to a release from VPCC in September.
The first group of students will attend class to earn their level one welding certification until Mar. 30. Classes will start for each student at 6 a.m. and end at 9 p.m. There will be a week-long break and then the school will continue. The VPCC trade school hopes to roll out its carpentry, masonry, and CNC machinery certificates in the summer.
“There are a lot of different opportunities, and I think we’re in a great location for safety reasons as well as being centralized with a lot of the contractors and supplies we use being right here,” Patrecia Gary, the Trades Center Coordinator, said. “So it’s easy to get materials, supplies, and equipment.”
Students for the semester will come to campus early to complete an orientation process, tour the facility and receive a brief on safety.
The school requires prospective students to be 18 and have either a high school diploma or a GED. Registration will be available online or with the career counselor on the Toano campus. Scholarship opportunities are available and supported by the Workforce Development Program.
For more information about the Virginia Peninsula Community College Trades Center, visit its official web page.
