An up-to-$404,930 grant from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority to the Southwest Virginia Community College Educational Foundation was closed recently.
The funds will be used for workforce development and training, for the purchase of orbital welding units and to support the Small Business Development Center at SWCC in its assistance to entrepreneurs and small business owners in the VCEDA region.
“VCEDA is pleased to once again provide support to SWCC to assist in workforce development and training for students in our region, to assist with the purchase of needed equipment to expand the college’s welding training options and to support the SBDC with which we work closely through our VCEDA Seed Capital Matching Grant program,” said VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher.
The workforce development and training component of the recent grant approval will continue funding to be used for scholarships for the emerging workforce, training instructional costs, customized workforce training for area businesses, work-based learning opportunities, costs of assessments and costs of administering National Career Readiness Certificate and other workforce testing for residents and/or workers in the VCEDA region.
That funding is specifically used in situations where training does not otherwise always qualify for other forms of financial assistance. Hundreds of workers and potential workers have been trained with the funding at both SWCC and Mountain Empire Community College.
The purchase of two orbital welding units for training purposes will support training in high purity piping systems for the food and beverage industry. These systems require precise, contamination-free welds to meet strict sanitary and regulatory standards. In addition, precision welding technology is widely used in industries including aerospace, energy, pharmaceuticals and advanced manufacturing. The equipment will be integrated into both an advanced welding program and a short-term workforce training program.
The third component of the grant request is for funding to help support workforce development and training for entrepreneurs and small business owners in the region including a part-time small business advisor position within the SBDC office at SWCC to assist in the delivery of one-on-one confidential advising on business planning, financial strategy, operations and market analysis.
“Thanks to VCEDA’s partnership and vision, Southwest can continue expanding workforce initiatives that prepare students for high-demand careers,” said SWCC Vice President of Institutional Advancement Susan Lowe. “Their support helps transform potential into opportunity and strengthens the economic future of our region.”
