Virginia
Governor Youngkin Announces Over $1.2 Million in Growth and Opportunity Virginia Grants to Support Entrepreneurial Ecosystems and Workforce Development
~ Funding will help regional financial improvement initiatives ~
RICHMOND, VA – Governor Glenn Youngkin at the moment introduced greater than $1,261,859 in Development and Alternative for Virginia (GO Virginia) grant awards for eight initiatives centered on creating crucial expertise pipelines to help regional financial progress, strengthen workforce improvement and help collaborative applications between localities, public entities and personal companies.
“GO Virginia is fostering a regional collaboration amongst companies, schooling and authorities leaders whereas supporting revolutionary approaches to jumpstart our workforce and financial improvement,” stated Governor Youngkin. “These initiatives will equip Virginians with the instruments they should thrive whereas strengthening workforce coaching and expertise improvement alternatives throughout the Commonwealth.”
“GO Virginia has confirmed crucial for constructing Virginia’s financial improvement methods and fostering innovation and collaboration,” stated Secretary of Commerce and Commerce Caren Merrick. “We’re making a stronger portfolio of entrepreneurial ecosystems whereas providing Virginians with the workforce improvement alternatives they should diversify distinctive regional economies all through the Commonwealth.”
The GO Virginia Board contains key members of the Governor’s cupboard, management from the enterprise neighborhood and the Common Meeting, together with Secretary of Commerce and Commerce Caren Merrick and Secretary of Finance Steve Cummings.
“As a brand new Board member, I’m happy to see the outcomes of the laborious work of the entire GO Virginia regional councils and companions at the moment,” stated GO Virginia Board Member and Speaker of the Virginia Home of Delegates Todd Gilbert. “It’s thrilling to see how these initiatives plan to ship the financial influence and progress that these areas are striving for–increasing the pool of job-ready expertise to help strategic {industry} sectors and constructing a vibrant and supportive atmosphere for high-growth potential startups within the Commonwealth.”
2022 REGIONAL GRANT AWARDS
Regional Expertise Technique Implementation | $315,910
Area 2: Counties of Botetourt, Franklin and Roanoke, and the cities of Covington, Roanoke and Salem
The Western Virginia Workforce Improvement Board (WVWDB), in partnership with the Roanoke Regional Partnership (RRP), will implement a regional expertise technique within the Roanoke Valley and Alleghany Highlands centered on expertise improvement, expertise attraction and retention. This challenge will embody the creation of a regional web-based expertise portal, toolkits for companies to make use of for recruitment and an annual retreat for the area’s financial and workforce companions, in addition to the event of a expertise ambassador volunteer program.
GO TEC Area 1 | $308,924
Area 1: Counties of Carroll, Grayson and Wythe
Carroll County Public Faculties, in partnership with Nice Alternatives in Expertise and Engineering Careers (GO TEC), will pilot GO TEC Profession Connections labs at Carroll County Center College, Grayson County Center College, and one center faculty in Wythe County Public Faculties. By providing college students specialised coaching in Area 1 {industry} priorities, this challenge will create a expertise pipeline yielding measurable outcomes by way of college students being uncovered to profession pathways inside the area, growing the variety of graduates who earn certifications in these pathways and providing new job alternatives upon commencement.
Activation Capital Regional Entrepreneurship Initiative (REI) for Area 4 | $300,000
Area 4: Counties of Chesterfield, Dinwiddie, Goochland, Greensville, Hanover, Henrico, Powhatan, Prince George, Surry and Sussex, and the cities of Colonial Heights, Hopewell and Petersburg
Activation Capital will lead an in-depth and region-wide planning course of for the Regional Entrepreneurship Initiative (REI). This challenge will enable the companions to additional develop the entrepreneurial ecosystem in alignment with the regional progress and diversification plan whereas creating sustainable, long-term methods.
Selling Careers in Aquaculture | $100,000
Area 6: Counties of Gloucester, Lancaster, Mathews, Middlesex, Northumberland and Westmoreland
Rappahannock Neighborhood Faculty (RCC) Instructional Basis will promote jobs within the aquaculture {industry} cluster by means of the event of on-line studying modules, a one-week immersive summer time course expertise and a four-week summer time internship with an area aquaculture enterprise. This challenge will increase highschool college students’ understanding of what jobs can be found within the sector, increase academic alternatives that match employer’s wants and help internship alternatives fostering expertise and consciousness. Moreover, RCC will work with enterprise companions to discover an industry-recognized certificates/credential that might function a non-credit choice accessible to RCC college students eager about pursuing a profession in aquaculture.
VGA Refresh/Restart: A Technique for Regional Financial Improvement in Southern Virginia | $100,000
Areas 3 and 4: Counties of Brunswick, Charlotte, Greensville, Lunenburg and Mecklenburg, and town of Emporia
Virginia’s Development Alliance (VGA) will lead the event of a strategic reset of objectives, priorities, focus and help to higher mirror adjustments within the group and financial improvement panorama, realigning the group right into a more practical and sustainable posture. This grant will construct and strengthen the capability of the regional financial improvement group by means of enterprise sector evaluation, workforce research, evaluation of regional incentives and a fundraising marketing campaign feasibility research.
Internship Expo and Hiring Workshops | $36,000
Area 6: Counties of Caroline, King George, Spotsylvania and Stafford, and town of Fredericksburg
The Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with 5 faculty divisions, Rappahannock Goodwill Profession Works, Germanna Neighborhood Faculty, and the College of Mary Washington, will pilot and host an Internship Expo that may join highschool and post-secondary college students with employer-sponsored internships in area’s focused industries. This grant can even embody 5 hiring workshops hosted all year long, permitting college students to make connections with enterprise leaders and foster expertise improvement within the area.
ECONOMIC RESILIENCE AND RECOVERY GRANT AWARDS:
Mountain Empire Neighborhood Faculty Venture WELD | $101,025
Area 1: Counties of Scott and Sensible, and town of Norton
Mountain Empire Neighborhood Faculty (MECC) will create a welding certification program by means of a collaboration with the Virginia Division of Corrections Sensible Correctional Unit and regional manufacturing and industrial employers to deal with a demonstrated workforce want for entry-level welders. This challenge will prepare incarcerated people and hyperlink them to accessible employment alternatives upon launch, resolving the unmet want for expert staff on this {industry} and offering alternatives to a ready-to-train inhabitants prepared to work.
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Virginia
West Virginia Mountaineers: Transfer 101: Ashton Woods
West Virginia has jumped into the transfer portal to address a need at the linebacker position with a commitment from North Carolina linebacker Ashton Woods.
Woods, 6-foot-3, 225-pounds, appeared in six games during his true freshman season for the Tarheels but did not record any statistics. A former four-star prospect that was rated as the 17th best linebacker prospect in the nation according to Rivals.com.
Prior to picking North Carolina, Woods held a long list of scholarship offers including USC, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Miami (Fla.), Auburn, Nebraska, Kentucky and a long list of other schools.
The Georgia native entered the transfer portal Dec. 27 and will have three years of eligibility remaining in his career.
WVSports.com breaks down the transfer of Woods and what it means to the West Virginia Mountaineers football program both now and in the future.
The data:
Woods only saw two defensive snaps in his true freshman season but brings a strong profile considering he tallied 151 tackles, eight sacks, 20 tackles for loss, two interceptions and two forced fumbles as a senior in high school.
The early enrollee has excellent size at the position and was able to see the field in his first year with the program which isn’t an easy thing to do.
Fitting the program:
West Virginia has only six true inside linebackers on the roster and one of those is a true freshman that means that as long as Woods is able to adjust quickly there are going to be chances for him to compete for time on the field.
Woods has the size and pedigree that you want to see out of young players that you pull from the transfer portal and that should translate to Morgantown.
It’s an addition from the state of Georgia where he played at an extremely high level in high school and now will have a chance to make the most of his opportunities. The fact that he will have at least three years remaining is critical.
Recruiting the position:
West Virginia still needs more experience at the linebacker position and the program has been active when it comes to searching for those options in the portal. Expect that to continue even with the addition of a high upside option like Woods.
Virginia
Virginia Tech Football: ESPN Expert Gives Biggest Takeaway From Hokies Loss to Minnesota in Dukes Mayo Bowl
It was a fitting end on Friday night for Virginia Tech in the Dukes Mayo Bowl vs Minnesota. After coming into the year with ACC title aspirations, the Hokies disappointing season ends at 6-7. Losing the bowl game was not at all surprising considering the players the Hokies had missing, but it was the final chapter in a season that started with big hopes.
After the game, ESPN’s David Hale gave his biggest takeaway for the game, as well as naming an MVP for Minnesota’s win:
Takeaway: “Minnesota extended the longest bowl winning streak in the country to eight games, largely dominating a severely depleted Virginia Tech team that was missing its starting quarterback, running back, receivers, pass rushers and defensive backs. Max Brosmer, playing in his last collegiate game, threw for 211 yards and finished the season with 2,828 yards passing — the third-highest total in school history. The defense came up big all night, limiting the Hokies offense to 223 total yards and nine first downs. Twice in the fourth quarter, Virginia Tech drove inside the Minnesota 20 but the Gophers stopped the Hokies both times on fourth down, including a game-sealing interception with 4:24 remaining. There was one highlight for Virginia Tech: Kicker John Love made a 60-yard field goal, the second longest in school history. Minnesota coach P.J. Fleck got the ceremonial mayo bath after the win, his sixth bowl victory at the school. The other 34 coaches in program history have combined for seven.”
MVP: WR Elijah Spencer. Spencer finished with six catches for 81 yards and two first-half touchdowns, tying the school record for receiving touchdowns in a bowl game.
All eyes shift to next season now for the Hokies. They are still working on adding talent through the transfer portal and getting quarterback Kyron Drones back healthy. Next year will be a big season for Brent Pry and this program and the work to have a big 2025 season starts now.
Virginia Tech Football: Hokies Kicker John Love Breaks Duke’s Mayo Bowl Record
Virginia Tech Basketball: Instant Takeaways From The Hokies win against Miami
Virginia Tech Football: Hokies fall in Duke’s Mayo Bowl 24-10, Officially Ending The Disappointing 2024 Season
Virginia
Highlights and Notes: Louisville 70, Virginia 50
CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. – For the first time since 1990, the Louisville men’s basketball program was triumphant on the road against Virginia, leaving Charlottesville with a resounding 70-50 victory on Saturday.
The Atlantic Coast Conference put together a highlight tape of the matchup, which you can see here:
(Photo of Chucky Hepburn: Jamie Rhodes – Imagn Images)
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