Gov. Ralph Northam today announced $1,565,233 in GO Virginia (Growth and Opportunity for Virginia) funding for three regional projects.
Key members of the Governor’s cabinet, the General Assembly, and the business community approved the GO Virginia regional per capita grants for projects across the Commonwealth.
These grants are for projects each region identified as vital to their efforts to diversify the regional economy, strengthen their workforce, and support collaborative programs between localities, public entities, and private businesses.
“GO Virginia encourages regional collaboration among businesses, government entities, and education partners in support of our shared economic goals,” said Northam. “To achieve long-term economic growth and create high-paying jobs, we must capitalize on the strengths of our regional economies and connect Virginians with the skills employers are looking for—I’m confident that each of these projects will do just that.”
The GO Virginia grants will be used to implement projects that align with each region’s Growth and Diversification Plans. These plans provide an honest assessment of the economic, workforce, and structural barriers in the region, as well as the existing regional economic drivers and potential growth sectors in each region. Projects that address these challenges and opportunities are the first step toward the creation of higher-paying jobs in the regions.
“The regional approach of GO Virginia is continuing to spur innovative ideas and strategies throughout the Commonwealth,” said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. “These projects will help the regions fill the talent pipeline in key industries for each region and the Commonwealth, including advanced manufacturing, shipbuilding and computer science.”
The regional per capita funding is awarded based on recommendations from the GO Virginia Regional Councils for projects that support regional collaboration and the Growth and Diversification Plans. The GO Virginia Board is responsible for giving final approval for these grants awarded through the GO Virginia program.
The GO Virginia Board approved three projects, which will leverage $1,920,253 in non-state sources to assist with economic diversification throughout Virginia, including $350,501 of local government resources toward the three projects.
2018 Round 6 Regional Per Capita Grant Awards
| GO Virginia Region (and localities within region involved in project award) | Project Name | Award
(Type) |
Project Description |
| Region 2: Bedford and Campbell Counties
|
Center for Energy Research and Education (CERE) Additive Manufacturing Partnership Lab | $274,980 (Per Capita) |
Liberty University will develop the Additive Manufacturing Partnership Lab (AMPL) at the newly established CERE facility in Bedford County. Liberty will utilize AMPL to train students and manufacturing employees in the region on the newest technology-based processes, such as 3D printing and robotics, which are driving manufacturing industry growth. |
| Region 5: Cities of Chesapeake, Hampton, Newport News, Portsmouth, Poquoson, Suffolk, Virginia Beach and Williamsburg, and James City and York Counties
|
Virginia Cyber Alliance: Year 2 | $642,713 (Per Capita) |
Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center (VMASC) will develop the Virginia Cyber Alliance (formerly known as the HR Cyber Co-Lab), a highly advanced collaboration hub at Old Dominion University’s Tri-Cities Campus. The Virginia Cyber Alliance will consist of online platforms, industry partnerships, a virtual demonstration environment for cybersecurity analysis modules, and a work-based learning initiative for transitioning military and recent graduates to intern with firms that specialize in cybersecurity, data analytics, and Unmanned Systems and Aerospace. |
| Region 5: Cities of Hampton, Newport News and Williamsburg, and Isle of Wight and James City counties
|
Virginia Digital Shipbuilding Program (VDSP): Year 2 | $647,540 (Per Capita) |
Virginia Modeling, Analysis and Simulation Center (VMASC) will create a regional and statewide shipbuilding curriculum and co-lab facility to train approximately 8,500 current and future workers in the shipbuilding and advanced manufacturing clusters. VDSP will build upon the region’s position as a global leader in shipbuilding by expanding existing workforce development programs and stacking industry-recognized credentials with relevance to the shipbuilding, advanced manufacturing, and modeling and simulation industries. |
| Total | $1,565,233 | ||
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