Virginia to Fund Logistics Training, Business Sites
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Two logistics projects and six proposed business development sites will receive state funds from a $2.5 million package of 21 grants that Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin recently awarded to boost industries and workforce development.
Youngkin called the funding from the Growth and Opportunity for Virginia (GO Virginia) program “strategic investments in pivotal projects targeting regionally identified opportunities” to foster new business between private and public sectors.
“These projects showcase the innovative partnerships that GO Virginia aims to cultivate which are strengthening our workforce and propelling the commonwealth forward in key industries,” he said Oct. 1, when announcing the grants.
Secretary of Commerce and Trade Caren Merrick predicted the state funds will remove barriers to opportunities and promote innovative collaboration.
#ICYMI: Governor Glenn Youngkin Announces Over $2.5 Million in Growth and Opportunity Virginia Grantshttps://t.co/zaWgSzJ5u6 — GO Virginia (@GOVirginia) October 3, 2024
The largest grant for logistics ($250,000) is going to the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Development Board to determine where to best expand the workforce for jobs in logistics, manufacturing and transportation. The area represented by the board includes five cities (Buena Vista, Harrisonburg, Lexington, Waynesboro and Winchester) and nine area counties.
Another logistics grant ($100,000) will help Paul D. Camp Community College provide short- and long-term training for industrial and warehouse workers to use advanced, technical machinery such as robotics. The region designated for this grant consists of the cities of Franklin and Suffolk and the counties of Isle of Wight and Southampton, where logistics and robotics can support the targeted industries there in port operations, shipbuilding, maritime technologies, advanced manufacturing and aerospace.
“With the increase in industrial automation in our region, it is important that employees are prepared to meet the skills challenge,” Corey McCray, community college president, said earlier this year.
A pair of $100,000 grants will go to Mount Rogers Regional Partnership and the Blue Ridge Crossroads Economic Development Authority to create shovel-ready sites for new businesses.
Mount Rogers, in southwest Virginia, wants to have at least 20 new locations spanning from 50 to 100 acres to locate future businesses. The Blue Ridge authority will focus its state money on the Wildwood Commerce Park site in Galaxy, Va., that has direct truck access to Interstate 77 and connections within 75 miles to I-81, I-74 and I-40. The site boasts 50 developable acres.
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The city of Norton and four surrounding counties on the far western edge of Virginia will use a $99,500 grant to also develop shovel-ready business sites and evaluate ways to improve electric power there, especially for data centers.
The Greater Richmond Partnership was awarded $87,500 to analyze potential new area clusters for businesses.
A $75,000 planning grant for science and technology innovation is going to Loudoun County and the city of Manassas, while the Amelia County Economic Development Authority will receive $21,000 to determine how a newly acquired 134-acre site can support future economic development.
