Northam opens first Virginia Career Works Center in Roanoke

Governor Ralph Northam attended the grand opening of the inaugural Virginia Career Works center, located in the City of Roanoke, on Tuesday. The facility, supported by the work of the Western Virginia Workforce Development Board, is the newest comprehensive workforce development center in the Commonwealth and the first to open using the new Virginia Career Works brand.

“Today isn’t just about unfurling flags and hanging signs, it’s about a fundamentally new approach to workforce development in Virginia,” said Governor Northam. “The newly unified Virginia Career Works brand sends a clear message to everyone—these services are here to help you succeed in the 21^st-century economy.”

The new Virginia Career Works Roanoke Center brings together a variety of workforce development programs to provide comprehensive services for both jobseekers and employers in a single location. In addition to a computer lab, the center houses staff with expertise in resume writing, career planning, education and training, unemployment insurance benefits, job placement assistance, and other related services.

“I hope that everyone in our region views this new location as their career center,” said Jake Gilmer, Director of Virginia Career Works of the Blue Ridge. “The Roanoke Center will serve young people, working professionals, businesses, veterans, individuals with disabilities, and any adult that wants to further their career.”

Employers in the region can access a host of services such as recruitment and screening assistance, coordinated recruiting events, funding to improve the skills of their new or existing workforce, as well as access to interview rooms and job fair space at no cost.

“Jobseekers and growing employers should be focused on the opportunities ahead of them, not government bureaucracy,” said Chief Workforce Development Advisor Megan Healy. “This center is a testament to the spirit of collaboration in the Roanoke region and a renewed commitment to providing easy access to the workforce services and support that people and businesses need to succeed.”

The Virginia Career Works Roanoke Center is located 3601 Thirlane Road in Roanoke.