Month: October 2024

The GO Virginia State Board along with staff from the Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) held the 2nd annual retreat for Regional Council leadership and support organization staff at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research in Danville, VA. The retreat convened all 9 GO Virginia regions with State Board members to discuss successes of the program, and to look towards the future of “GO Virginia 2.0.”

Governor Glenn Youngkin spoke on Virginia’s Economic Development Priorities and how GO Virginia projects can help the Commonwealth achieve these goals through collaboration and partnership. Panelists included the Virginia Economic Development Partnership sector leads from Knowledge Work, Manufacturing, and Transportation/Logistics; representatives from Southside Virginia economic development organizations; and three Regional Council Chairs.

Shara Gibson, Program Manager for GO Virginia at DHCD, presented updated data on projects funded and metrics achieved since the creation of GO Virginia. There was also a focus on Program Performance and looking forward to GO Virginia 2.0. Some of the changes recommended from the JLARC study completed in 2023 have already taken place, such as project match being reduced to 2:1 from 1:1 and the inclusion of Healthcare as an allowable industry for project funding.

Each of the Nine GO Virginia Regions were able to showcase impactful projects at the Game Changer Reception on the first night of the retreat. Region 6 had representation from the Virginia Sea Grant’s “Launching a Coastal Resilience and Adaptation Economy” and the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement’s “Promoting Careers in Aquaculture 2.0” projects.

To learn more about the GO Virginia State Board and its membership, visit the DHCD website.

The Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce’s Workforce NOW program held the third annual Superintendent’s Forum on September 17th. The forum featured Superintendents and representatives from Planning District 16’s five school divisions. Dr. Antoinette Jenkins, Director of the Rappahannock Work and Learn Collaborative at the University of Mary Washington, moderated the panel with questions focused on work-based learning and Career Technical Education (CTE) programs. 

Panelists discussed programs available to all students, including those not continuing on to a two-year or four-year institution, and how career exploration, work-based learning, and credentialing can help prepare those students to enter the workforce straight out of high school. “Work-based learning is really for all students, not just for students who are going to college,” said Dr. Clint Mitchell, superintendent for Spotsylvania County Public Schools. “And I want to make sure that we provide the opportunity for all kids…”

Panelists also highlighted how partnerships between the school divisions and private industry or local businesses can benefit both students and their future employers. Some of these partnerships are already in place thanks to connections made at the Workforce NOW annual Internship Expo. Examples include Partnerships between:

• Mary Washington Healthcare and Fredericksburg City Schools,
• CMC Rebar and King George County Schools,
• SIM Ventions and Stafford County Schools,
• Habitat with Humanity with Caroline County Schools 

“It’s all about making sure that our partnerships are supporting a curriculum to help students experience the interests that they have, and to solidify those choices they’re making in terms of their career pathways or to maybe move them into a different direction,” Dr. Marcie Rice from Stafford County Schools stated.  

The Superintendent Forum is part of the Workforce NOW programming, funded in part by GO Virginia Region 6. To stay up to date on future Workforce NOW events and to register, visit the Chamber’s website.