Press Release
U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $749,000 to Boost Workforce Training Opportunities in West Virginia
Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
November 20, 2018
WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $749,000 grant to Bridge Valley Community and Technical College of South Charleston, West Virginia, to help establish the Bridge Valley Construction, Telecommunications, and Energy Workforce Training Center, which will be located on Bridge Valley’s Montgomery campus.
“Bridge Valley Community and Technical College plays a critical role in helping students gain the skills that local businesses need to grow and thrive,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary for Regional Affairs Dennis Alvord. “The new Bridge Valley Construction, Telecommunications, and Energy Workforce Training Center will provide job-based skills training in numerous trades based on the documented needs of the industry in this region.”
The new training center is widely supported by local industry. According to grantee estimates, the Center is expected to train and place more than 200 trainees within the first three years of operation, and up to 1,836 in the first nine years. This project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Region 3 Economic Development District. EDA funds the Region 3 Economic Development District to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment and create jobs.
This project is funded under the Assistance to Coal Communities (ACC) program, through which EDA will award funds on a competitive basis to assist communities severely impacted by the declining use of coal through activities and programs that support economic diversification, job creation, capital investment, workforce development, and re-employment opportunities.
About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.