Project Group: Workforce Development

Fredericksburg Regional Chamber Workforce NOW

Following the previously awarded GO Virginia Enhanced Capacity Building grant that awarded funds to Fredericksburg Chamber in partnership with five school divisions, Germanna Community College, Rappahannock Goodwill Career Works, and the University of Mary Washington to host an internship expo, this project will help address workforce shortages and increase work-based learning opportunities by holding two Internship Expos in 2024 and 2025, conducting a hiring workshop series with 12 workshops in all, and forming a Workforce NOW non-profit and committee to oversee these efforts.

• Statewide Project Theme:  Workforce Development
• Region 6 Priority Industry Cluster:  Aquaculture/Seafood/Commercial Fishing/Marine Industries, Forestry/Wood Products/Paper, Manufacturing, Distribution/Logistics, Information/Data Centers, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services
• GO Virginia Request: $230,000
• Match: $150,000
• Source of Match: Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce ($150,000)
• Project Type:  Implementation
• Localities: Counties of Stafford, Spotsylvania, Caroline, King George, and the City of Fredericksburg

Stafford County Public Schools Pathways to Success

The purpose of this project, co-designed by nationally-renowned K-12 STEM curriculum and training provider, JASON Learning (JASON), and Stafford County Public Schools (SCPS) is to ensure middle schoolers in Region 6 are receiving career preparation and exploration and gaining workplace skills that employers desire in their future employees.

• Statewide Project Theme:  Workforce Development
• Region 6 Priority Industry Cluster: Aquaculture/Seafood/Commercial Fishing/Marine Industries, Forestry/Wood Products/Paper, Manufacturing, Distribution/Logistics, Information/Data Centers, Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services.
• GO Virginia Request: $100,000
• Match: $50,000
• Source of Match: Stafford County Public Schools ($15,000) & JASON Learning ($35,000)
• Project Type:  ECB
• Localities: Caroline County, Essex County, City of Fredericksburg, King & Queen County, Mathews County, Stafford County, and Westmoreland County

Fredericksburg Region Industry Cluster Analysis

This study will focus on identifying detailed 4-digit NAICS level industries within the broader 2-digit industries already identified in the Growth and Diversification Plan such as Manufacturing, Distribution and Logistics, IT and Data Centers, and Professional Services. It is at this 4-digit level that the Fredericksburg Region Industry Cluster Analysis would provide the most benefit to our region and individual localities.

• Statewide Project Theme: Workforce Development
• Region 6 Priority Industry Cluster: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; Manufacturing
• GO Virginia Request: $30,000
• Match: $15,000
• Source of Match: Fredericksburg Regional Alliance, Vakos, Transurban, Germanna Community College
• Project Type: Enhanced Capacity Building
• Localities: City of Fredericksburg, Caroline County, King George County, Stafford County, and Spotsylvania County
• How does this project create higher paying jobs?This project creates higher paying jobs by providing understanding of the current industries within the Fredericksburg region to attract new companies to the region and expand current companies.

RCC Promoting Careers in Aquaculture

While jobs in the Aquaculture/Seafood/Commercial Fishing/Marine Industries have been declining over the past five years, the region has a high concentration of employment in this industry. This industry is prime for growth in Region 6, especially in the Northern Neck and Middle Peninsula. This project will 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.

• Statewide Project Theme:  Workforce Development
• Region 6 Priority Industry Cluster: Aquaculture/Seafood/Commercial Fishing/Marine Industries
• GO Virginia Request: $100,000
• Match: $50,000
• Source of Match: RCCEFI ($11,000), VT Center for Economic and Community Engagement ($7,000), Private
• Project Type:  ECB
• Localities: Essex, Gloucester, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Richmond, Westmoreland
• How does it create high paying jobs? This project creates higher paying jobs by creating positive career and growth opportunities for students and the business cluster.

FXBG Chamber Intern Expo & Hiring Workshops

The Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, the five school divisions in PDC 16, Germanna Community College, University of Mary Washington and Rappahannock Goodwill’s Career Works program will host an internship expo. This expo will connect students with internships in a variety of industries. 40-60 companies will be represented at the expo with opportunities to connect with our local students and even schedule interviews. The goal for this internship expo is 75 students being interviewed for internship positions. Accompanying the internship expo will be a series of 5 hiring workshops, including workshops on how businesses can build a successful internship program. This internship expo and the hiring workshops comprise the Chamber’s workforce solutions pilot program.

• Statewide Project Theme:  Workforce Development
• Region 6 Priority Industry Cluster: Forestry/Wood products/Paper, Manufacturing, Distribution/Logistics, Information/Data Centers, Professional, Scientific and Technical Services.
• GO Virginia Request: $36,000
• Match: $37,524
• Source of Match: Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce ($29,254), private businesses ($8,000)
• Project Type:  ECB
• Localities: City of Fredericksburg, Caroline, King George, Stafford, Spotsylvania
• How does it create high paying jobs? This project creates higher paying jobs by enhancing job shadowing programs with employers, establishing a regional career exhibition to connect students with summer job opportunities and developing work-based learning opportunities that incorporate soft skills training to keep employees that will lead to better alignment of Region 6 talent with current and prospective job opportunities and the ability for the Region to attract and retain talent.

Germanna Tech Talent Pipeline

This project will utilize GO Virginia funds to develop two new curriculums to train a workforce in information technology (IT), engineering, computer science and cyber related professions; host two summer camps for middle/high school students; and develop a web portal to engage students in jobs that meet their credentials. GO Virginia funds will be used to 1) purchase and install specialized lab equipment in 4 existing GCC classrooms, 2) train and certify 20 middle and high school instructors, 3) Cover roughly half the costs of the outreach activities in area middle and high schools, and 4) create and implement the web portal and communication/promotion campaign.

• Statewide Project Theme:  Workforce Development
• Region 6 Priority Industry Cluster: Manufacturing, Logistics/Distribution, Information/Data Centers, and Professional/Scientific/Technical Services
• GO Virginia Request: $634,938
• Match: $398,000
• Source of Match: Germanna Community College
• Project Type:  Implementation
• Localities: City of Fredericksburg, Caroline, King George, Stafford, Spotsylvania
• How does it create high paying jobs? This project creates higher paying jobs by providing training to over 200 students in the IT and computer science related industries.

Good Jobs Here

This project will complete planning activities towards documenting a 1) better focus all the region’s economic development efforts, 2) draw together a variety of elements and organizations to have a larger and more sustained impact, 3) increase the use of available Go Virginia funds for successful and innovative projects, and 4) prepare the community for an even more positive future.

• Statewide Project Theme: Workforce Development
• Region 6 Priority Industry Cluster: Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
• GO Virginia Request: $50,000
• Match: $9,900
• Source of Match: George Washington Regional Commission
• Localities: City of Fredericksburg, Caroline County, King George County, Stafford County, Spotsylvania County
• How does this project create higher paying jobs? This project creates higher paying jobs by understanding the current landscape of jobs within the region and creating a plan to grow jobs within the Fredericksburg area.

Northern Neck Workforce Training Feasibility and Site Selection Study

This project will examine current and future workforce needs and the requirements for undertaking appropriate training to meet the available jobs of today and in the future. GO Virginia funding will be used for an assessment that will include a blueprint of what is needed by local companies and other workforce needs, prioritization for implementation, cost estimates, and the necessary steps to improve the quality and quantity of workforce training in the region.

• Statewide Project Theme: Workforce Development
• Region 6 Priority Industry Cluster: Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services; Manufacturing
• GO Virginia Request: $62,500
• Match: $62,500
• Source of Match:S. Department of Labor
• Project Type: Enhanced Capacity Building
• Localities: Richmond County, Westmoreland County, Lancaster County, Northumberland County, Essex County, Gloucester County
• How does this project create higher paying jobs? This project creates higher paying jobs by understanding what training needs are necessary to create higher paying jobs in this sub-region.

Cybersecurity Certification Program

This project establishes a Certified Information Systems Security Professional (CISSP) certification program at UMW and equip 70 of the region’s citizens with this certification to pursue employment at local businesses within the region. GO Virginia funds will be used to pay for course programming and instructor costs.

• Statewide Project Theme: Workforce Development
• Region 6 Priority Industry Cluster: Professional, Scientific and Technical Services
• GO Virginia Request: $110,000
• Match: $110,000
• Source of Match: City of Fredericksburg, King George County, Stafford County, University of Mary Washington, Germanna Community College, and Rappahannock Community College
• Localities: City of Fredericksburg, King George County, and Stafford County
• How does this project create higher paying jobs? This project creates higher paying jobs by providing training towards a CISSP certification that provide jobs at above the regional average.

Welding Training Program

This project creates a new welding training program at Rappahannock Community College. GO Virginia funds will be used to equip a welding training facility with 15 workstations and train 40 welders for employment at local businesses within Region 6.

• Statewide Project Theme: Workforce Development
• Region 6 Priority Industry Cluster: Manufacturing
• GO Virginia Request: $130,000
• Match: $130,000
• Source of Match: Westmoreland County, Bay Consortium Workforce Development Board, Carry-On Trailer Corporation, Northern Neck Chesapeake Bay Region Partnership, Northumberland County, and Rappahannock Community College
• Project Type: Implementation
• Localities: Westmoreland County and Northumberland County
• How does this project create higher paying jobs? This project creates higher paying jobs by providing welding training classes projected to pay at $22hr for those who complete the program.