Extended and New Pathways with Stafford and Caroline
Stafford County Public Schools, in partnership with Caroline County Public Schools, are applying for a GO Virginia
Region 6 implementation grant to expand their Career Technical Education (CTE) pathways in their already
established Stafford Centers and the Academies of Caroline. These pathways would fill gaps supporting the
IT/Data Centers, Distribution and Logistics, and Professional/Scientific/Technical services industry clusters.
The main goal of the collaborative project between Stafford and Caroline School Districts is to leverage targeted
investment to align secondary education with regional economic priorities, based on GOVA’s Region 6 Growth and
Diversification Plan and meet Virginia’s “3E expectations” (enroll, enlist, employ).
The project will establish deep collaborative practices between Stafford and Caroline County Public Schools,
including co-developing curricula, aligning industry-recognized credentials, and conducting joint professional
learning.
- Statewide Project Theme: Workforce Development
- Region 6 Priority Industry Cluster: Distribution/Logistics, Information/Data Centers, Professional Services
- Project Type: Implementation
- GO Virginia Request: $965,601.00
- Match: $482,800.77
- Source of Match: Stafford County Public Schools, Caroline County Public Schools
- Localities: Stafford County, Caroline County
AI Mobile Unit for Workforce & Education
In alignment with Governor Glenn Youngkin’s Executive Order 30 (January 2024) and the Virginia Department of Education’s Guidelines for AI Integration Throughout Education, the AI Mobile Unit for Workforce & Education is a multi-regional initiative designed to deliver AI literacy, ethics, prompting, and certification training directly to schools, workforce centers, and businesses across Regions 6 and 9.
This initiative addresses a critical workforce gap by equipping high school students, teachers, and adult learners with industry-recognized AI competencies, linking CompTIA AI certifications to entry-level jobs across Virginia’s traded-sector industries—Professional, Scientific & Technical Services; IT/Data Centers; and IT & Communications. The mobile delivery model ensures equitable access across rural and underserved communities, removing the technical and policy barriers often encountered within school networks. This flexibility allows secure deployment of high-quality AI programming that builds on proven frameworks already piloted in Virginia schools, ensuring those trained possess the foundational AI skills employers demand
Key Deliverables (Two-Year Implementation)
- 80 Mobile AI Workshops delivered annually across schools, workforce centers, and rural communities in both regions.
- 2,000 Students Served, gaining foundational AI literacy, ethics, and prompting skills.
- 80 Teachers Certified annually through CompTIA AI, embedding AI instruction within classrooms.
- 200 High School Seniors earning CompTIA AI credentials annually, validating job readiness.
- 20 Businesses Served through applied AI and workforce upskilling workshops.
- Dual-Enrollment Framework (Year 2 Goal) developed with ATI–UMW and Rappahannock Community College, enabling high school students to earn college-level AI credits.
- Statewide Project Theme: Workforce Development
- Region 6 Priority Industry Cluster: Information/Data Centers and Professional/Scientific/Technical Services
- Project Type: Implementation
- GO Virginia Request: $1,079,108.65
- Match: $520,473.13
- Source of Match: Bay Consortium Workforce Development Board, GCubed Inc, Smart Community Exchange, X Corp Solutions Inc, King George County Public Schools, Nelson County Public Schools, Orange County Department of Economic Development, Orange County Public Schools, Rappahannock County Public Schools, Spotsylvania County Public Schools, and Stafford County Department of Economic Development
- Localities: King George County, Stafford County, Orange County, Culpeper County, Fauquier County, Caroline County, Nelson County, Rappahannock County, Spotsylvania County
CNC Machining Program at RCC
To meet the growing workforce demands of manufacturers in GO Virginia Region 6, Rappahannock Community College (RCC) will establish a comprehensive Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Machining training program. The initiative’s goal is to equip students with technical skills and industry-recognized credentials that prepare them for high-demand machining careers across the region.
RCC will pursue a partnership-driven approach that combines new career pathways, state-of-the-art training facilities, and employer collaboration. By aligning with GO Virginia Region 6 growth strategies, the program will expand career opportunities, strengthen regional training capacity, and connect students directly to local industry needs.
This project will create three new career pathways, provide training and credentials for thirty-six students, and employ thirty students as CNC machinists.
- Statewide Project Theme: Workforce Development
- Region 6 Priority Industry Cluster: Manufacturing
- Project Type: Planning
- GO Virginia Request: $431,575.00
- Match: $216,591.92
- Source of Match: Verlander Fund; Hampton Roads Workforce Council via the U.S. Department of Labor Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs Grant Program; Fulcrum Dynamics; Gloucester County; King and Queen County; Lancaster County; Middlesex County; Northumberland County; Town of West Point
- Localities: Essex County; Gloucester County; King George County; King William County; Lancaster County; Mathews County; Middlesex County; Northumberland County; Richmond County; Westmoreland County
UMW Practice Management Certificate Program
The Practice Management Certification Program will address the number of skilled workers to effectively run medical (primary care, etc.) offices. We will bring in a nationally recognized industry credentialing body, the Practice Management Institute (PMI), to certify the participants and further develop efficient and accurate practices. UMW will begin by offering the Certified Medical Office Manager Certificate Program. Participants in the program will complete a certification course and complete the exam.
This project will also research the impact of healthcare access on growth of the targeted indsustry clusters in the region before beginning the certification cohort.
- Statewide Project Theme: Workforce Development
- Region 6 Priority Industry Cluster: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; Information/Data Centers; Manufacturing
- GO Virginia Request: $78,014
- Match: $40,000
- Source of Match: Mary Washington Healthcare
- Project Type: Planning/Pilot
Cyber Titans Virginia Internship Program (Cyber Titans VIP)
This internship program will prepare high school and colleges students, transitioning service members, and individuals seeking careers in cybersecurity. Cyber Titans VIP will design a training curriculum and certification pathway through a planning and pilot effort focused on cybersecurity. The initiative will focus on a four-step process: 1. Establish Workforce Goals – Collaborate with industry partners and localities to define specific workforce needs and she the Cyber Titans VIP curriculum. 2. Develop Action Plan – Design a strategic training plan that addressed workforce gaps and aligns with cybersecurity industry demands. 3. Implement – Execute the internship program in partnership with stakeholders (e.g. Region 6 localities, Virginia Talent + Opportunity Partnership VTOP, industry) ensuring effective placement and training for up to 20 participants. 4. Communicate – Maintain ongoing communication with stakeholders, ensuring transparency and progress tracking The planning and pilot phase will be used to establish necessary partnerships, design the program framework, and create a curriculum tailored to the region’s industry needs. Once the framework is complete, the program will be piloted with 10 participants in an 8-week internship program, providing hands-on experience in the cybersecurity field.
- Statewide Project Theme: Workforce Development
- Region 6 Priority Industry Cluster: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; Information/Data Centers
- GO Virginia Request: $99,826
- Match: $49,913
- Source of Match: Cyber Bytes Foundation, BCWDB WIOA Funds, DOD Training Center
- Project Type: Planning/Pilot
The Bay Consortium Workforce Development Board’s Career Advancement Resource Education (CARE) project’s goal is to build new capacity to enhance career awareness and define career pathways within the identified targeted industries. The project will focus on four strategic goals: 1)develop the capacity to serve as the Sector Partnership Regional convenor to develop the foundation for employer-led talent development strategies through employer engagement; 2) define career pathways of the targeted industries influenced by data from employers; 3) address workforce development issues as larger industry initiatives to foster collaboration through the Sector Partnership Toolkit and outreach materials; and 4) collect and utilize data to inform collective talent development priorities and ensure actional strategies are implemented through business toolkits.
- Statewide Project Theme: Workforce Development
- Region 6 Priority Industry Cluster: Aquaculture / Seafood / Commercial Fishing / Marine Industries; Manufacturing; and Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
- GO Virginia Request: $ 307,857.00
- Match: $ 160,891.00
- Source of Match: Bay Consortium Workforce Development Board and Locality pay from CLEO Board
- Project Type: Implementation
This project will continue to promote jobs in the aquaculture industry cluster by expanding high school students’ understanding of what jobs are available in the aquaculture industry cluster, expanding educational opportunities that meet employers’ needs, and supporting internship opportunities that help young people gain experience and awareness. This is a continuation of a pilot project which has two prongs for students.
- Summer program aquaculture training (spat): partner with local community colleges to provide a one-week hands-on education immersion summer course for high school students in the aquaculture and marine industries. Participating community colleges will host at minimum one element of the multi-faceted teacher training sessions.
- Internship placement: a 75-hour internship placement with local aquaculture businesses for rising seniors. The project team will work with local industry to understand workforce challenges and needs. Industry partners will be provided with information on internship best practices to prepare them for hosting the interns.
The Implementation project will also include a training program for teachers in participating localities.
- Statewide Project Theme: Workforce Development
- Region 6 Priority Industry Cluster: Aquaculture/Seafood/Commercial Fishing/Marine Industries
- GO Virginia Request: $302,536.00
- Match: $177,803.00
- Source of Match: Aquaculture Industry Partners ($74,500), BCWDB and Hampton Roads Workforce ($46,250), Virginia Seafood AREC ($10,273), Lancaster, Gloucester, Matthews, Richmond, and Northhampton County ($19,780), New Horizons ($1,580), Chesapeake Bay Governor’s School ($21,220)
- Project Type: Statewide Competitive
