Valley gets $5M for green job training

  
Story by Chris Graham
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Blue Ridge Community College and James Madison University are among a group of Shenandoah Valley partners that will take part in a new program to train workers for jobs in the emerging green sector.

U.S. Sens. Mark Warner and Jim Webb on Friday announced a $5 million investment from the federal economic-stimulus package that will go to the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Investment Board to get the job-training program off the ground.

“The formation of the Shenandoah Valley Energy Partnership is exactly the kind of forward-looking collaboration we need to help jump-start our economy and create next-generation jobs in the clean energy field,” said Sen. Warner. “This investment in training workers for new green energy represents an exciting opportunity for the entire Valley region.”

“One of the largest barriers to economic growth in many communities is the shortage of a skilled workforce, and I am pleased the Shenandoah Valley will benefit from this investment,” said Sen. Webb. “Proper job training and workforce development will create jobs and enable Virginia to take advantage of the growing technology and renewable energy economies.”

The federal funding will provide workforce training for an estimated 1,000 people across 10 counties and six cities in the Valley.

The grant was one of 55 awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor today for projects that will enhance job training programs and employment services in health care and other high-growth and emerging industries across the United States.

“This is wonderful news for the Shenandoah Valley where we are currently enduring our highest unemployment rates in decades,” said Bob Satterwhite, director of the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Investment Board. “Training made possible by this grant will prepare our area’s workers for jobs in energy efficiency and renewable energy industries, including occupations that have long‐term demand and offer the potential for high wage, career pathway jobs. We anticipate working with approximately 450 employers, as well as community members and schools in this effort, and believe the whole Valley region will benefit substantially.”