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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.

On August 12th, Virginia Sea Grant along with Rise Resilience Innovations and the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority held a Launch and Site Tour for their Coastal Resilience and Water Adaptation Ecosystem project. The event showcased innovative technologies developed by companies chosen for Rise’s rural challenge. As part of the project, the companies have been paired with University partners to research and develop solutions designed to protect coastal communities from shoreline erosion and flooding. 

NATRX Adaptive Infrastructure, Biogenic Solutions Consulting, LLC, and Triangle Environmental Health Initiative were all present to demonstrate the innovative products they have developed using the Middle Peninsula Chesapeake Bay Public Access Authority properties serving as living laboratories for research and development. University partners include George Mason University, James Madison University, Norfolk State University, Old Dominion University, Tulane University, and the University of Virginia. 

The event kicked off with a welcome from Virginia Sea Grant’s Director, Dr. Troy Hartley, followed by comments from DHCD’s Deputy Director of Economic Development and Community Vitality, Sara Dunnigan, and Congressman Rob Wittman. Attendees then rotated around the Captain Sinclair Field Station visiting each company, as well as Knott-Alone Hold Fast (a non-profit partner working with Veterans), to witness the research and technology that’s being deployed.

The Water Adaptation Industry Cluster & Innovation Ecosystem has three main pillars: Supporting Entrepreneurs through taking products and solutions to market, Collaborative R&D through an innovation & Idea Incubator with University partners, and workforce development by creating jobs and implementing solutions. These efforts are possible through collaboration between multiple stakeholders.

To learn more about the project visit https://wateradaptationeconomy.org/.

The Stafford County Economic Development Authority recently completed their “Expanding Smart Community Tech Entrepreneurship Across Region 6” project. The GO Virginia Region 6 funded project was in partnership between Stafford EDA, the Town of Colonial Beach, Middlesex County, and RIoT. Goals or the project included a feasibility study to identify opportunities to expand the existing Smart Technology Entrepreneurial testbed into rural localities across GO Virginia Region 6. By leveraging the Virginia Smart Community Testbed in Stafford, the Stafford EDA was able to explore the need for technology-driven solutions and connecting smart technology entrepreneurs and startups with local challenges across Region 6.

To start, discovery sessions were organized with community members and leaders in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula to collect and document specific issues faced by the localities. Participants in these sessions discussed how Smart Technology solutions could help alleviate these problems. The following problems statements were identified:

• Air Qualify Monitoring
• Digital Divide (Broadband/Connectivity
• Healthcare
• Overfilled Landfills
• Littering
• Smart Mobility (Pedestrian, Parking, and Traffic Management)
• Water/Wastewater Monitoring & Management

The second phase of the project included a call for solutions sent out to technology companies inviting submissions from entrepreneurs, startups, and established companies interested in collaborating with communities to address challenges through novel tools and concepts. A total of 28 submissions were received and evaluated based on their innovative merit and potential contributions to regional economic growth. From these, 14 submissions were chosen to advance. The project team facilitated meetings with submission winners and local government officials, focusing on practical application demonstrations and anticipated socio-economic outcomes. 

The final phase brought the local government personnel together with identified potential technology solutions by facilitating meetings with companies whose submissions were chosen. These meetings took place in Colonial Beach and Middlesex County.

Following these three stages, a final feasibility study was completed by the project team which was presented to the Stafford EDA and the GO Virginia Region 6 Council. The final report can be found here. The report identified a need for future implementation efforts in order to facilitate communication between the localities and companies, and to enable the companies to pilot their innovative technologies to provide solutions that will benefit the entire region.

The GO Virginia Region 6 Council announced $882,536 of funding for two workforce development projects that focus on enhancing career pathways in the region’s targeted industry clusters. The two projects both have strong industry support and share the goal of bridging the gap between education and the private sector by addressing the needs of area employers. The projects are led by Rappahannock Community College Education Foundation (RCCEF) and the Virginia Tech Center for Economic and Community Engagement (VTCECE) and will be implemented over the course of the next few years. Region 6 Localities participating in the projects are primarily located in the Middle Peninsula and Northern Neck regions. The VTCECE project is a multi-region initiative in partnership with Hampton Roads and the Eastern Shore (Region 5).

Continue reading “$882,536 of Virginia Growth and Opportunity Funds Awarded for Two Workforce Development Projects in GO Virginia Region 6”

On November 20th the Department of Housing and Community Development GO Virginia staff administratively approved the “Empowering Black Entrepreneurs Pilot” project application from the Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce (VABCC). The Empowering Black Entrepreneurs (EBE) Business Accelerator Pilot Program explores and addresses critical opportunities and challenges within the Black business community, emphasizing business sustainability, survival, and recovery, particularly in the post-COVID-19 business environment. The accelerator program will provide pragmatic business knowledge, from brand development to effective sales strategies and financial management.

Continue reading “DHCD Administratively Approves the Virginia Black Chamber of Commerce’s “Empowering Black Entrepreneurs Pilot” Business Accelerator Project”

The GO Virginia Region 6 Council announced $1,227,449.30 of funding for two workforce development projects that focus on enhancing career pathways region’s K-12 institutions and expanding work-based learning opportunities for secondary and post-secondary students. The ultimate goal of each project is to further bridge the gap between education and the private sector by addressing the needs of area employers. The projects are led by Stafford County Public Schools and the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce and will be implemented over the course of the next few years.

Continue reading “$1,227,449.30 of Virginia Growth and Opportunity Funds Awarded for Two Workforce Development Projects in GO Virginia Region 6”

FREDERICKSBURG, VA – The GO Virginia Region 6 Council and GO Virginia State Board reviewed and awarded RIoT $96,807 in GO Virginia funding to expand entrepreneurial programs in the Rappahannock Region.

Continue reading “GO Virginia Region 6 Approves $96,807 in funding to RIoT to support Entrepreneurial efforts in the region”

The Executive Committee of the Mary Ball Washington Regional Council – GO Virginia Region 6 met on December 13, 2021 from 10:00AM – 11:00AM. Below is a summary of key agenda items and actions taken.

Continue reading “Meeting Summary: GO Virginia Region 6 Executive Committee Meeting 12/13”

Be a Solution Builder for Rural Coastal Communities

The Rural Coastal Community Resilience Challenge represents a rare opportunity for game-changing entrepreneurs: The chance to pilot innovative solutions in the living laboratory of coastal Virginia and make a positive impact quickly. Continue reading “Rural Coastal Community Resilience Challenge $1.5 Million Challenge”

The Executive Committee of the Mary Ball Washington Regional Council – GO Virginia Region 6 met on November 9, 2021 from 10:00AM – 12:00PM. Below is a summary of key agenda items and actions taken.

Continue reading “Meeting Summary: GO Virginia Region 6 Executive Committee Meeting 11/9”