Virginia Ready Initiative retrains workers for in-demand jobs

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) – For a lot of Virginians, the distinction between low pay and a residing wage, may very well be a six to twelve-week coaching program.

The Virginia Prepared Initiative has helped greater than 2,000 folks make that transition, retraining employees for in-demand jobs that don’t require a four-year diploma.

“You recognize they helped me from the start to the tip,” Dan Wooden advised WDBJ7. “And to be fairly sincere, I used to be blessed to have that chance.”

Wooden is a VA Prepared graduate. He accomplished a four-week coaching program at Tidewater Neighborhood School, secured his Industrial Driver’s License and is now launching his personal enterprise, Let’s Go Transport LLC.

He mentioned the Virginia Prepared Initiative was instrumental in serving to him obtain his dream.

“It’s exhausting out right here whenever you don’t know these items, and also you’re attempting to do all the pieces from the bottom up,” Wooden mentioned. “And you recognize typically you want that enhance.”

The Virginia Prepared Initiative is billed as a business-led partnership that works with the state’s group schools and different organizations. It helps people change into licensed for brand spanking new jobs in expertise, healthcare, manufacturing and expert trades.

“The entire programs that we assist, we ensure that we’ve enterprise companions which might be prepared to pay a family-sustaining residing wage,” mentioned Virginia Prepared Initiative Govt Director Natalie Foster. “So it truly is altering the trajectory of their lives. and that’s what we hear over and over.”

“I’m blissful,” Wooden advised us. “New starting, model new alternative.”

The Quick Ahead program can present tuition help, and VA Prepared students who earn their credentials obtain a $1,000 award.

Coaching is accessible for all kinds of in-demand jobs, together with medical assistants and different well being care positions at native hospitals.

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