The Tobacco Regional Revitalization Commission met in Greenville County recently and approved two projects designed to benefit students in Southwest Virginia.
A grant worth $135,000 was awarded to Southwest Virginia Community College’s Workforce Accelerator for Robotic and Orbital Welding program.
The grant will support the establishment of a new Workforce Accelerator for Robotic and Orbital Welding to address a critical regional demand for highly skilled industrial welders. The funds will be utilized directly to purchase advanced training equipment, including a Lincoln Electric Cobot Welding System, alongside specialized instructor training and essential program consumables.
In addition, 20 students will train annually at the main campus and Bluefield Center. The program will provide participants with industry-recognized credentials in automation and precision welding technologies. This initiative will prepare workers for high-performance sectors like modern manufacturing and energy production, helping to fill a projected regional need for nearly 600 new welders over the next five years.
Great Aspirations Scholarship Program received a grant worth $113,013.71. The grant will go toward GRASP’s Postsecondary Advising Expansion into 11 high schools across Southwest Virginia.
The requested funds will be used to cover 50 percent of advisor compensation, along with necessary supplies and equipment over a three-year period.
Working directly alongside high school counseling departments, advisors will provide hands-on assistance to an estimated 333 students and families, guiding them through financial aid options and affordable pathways to college degrees or career credentials.
By helping families minimize student debt and access postsecondary opportunities, the initiative aims to strengthen the regional talent pipeline and encourage graduates to build their careers locally.
“Building a robust economy for Southern and Southwest Virginia requires long-term commitment and I am pleased that at our meetings here in Emporia the Commission has underscored its support for workforce education as well as helping our farmers and producers continue to grow and innovate,” said TRRC Chairman Delegate Will Morefield. “I want to extend my thanks to my fellow commissioners, as well as the staff, for their work on bringing these projects and initiatives to life. I know that the real work happens in our communities and so I look forward to seeing these investments create real opportunities for the people who call this region home.”
TRRC Executive Director David Manley added, “The Commission is a valuable resource for the rural communities it serves, and I am honored to be part of its work. It has been a pleasure getting to know our commissioners and staff over my first couple of months. I am excited to see the impact the grants approved at this meeting will have in the years to come and I look forward to working with our partners across Southern and Southwest Virginia to make sure the Commission continues to help meet the needs of our region.”
