BRCC Gets Boost For Industry Credentials
Posted: December 13, 2014
By AMELIA BRUST
In an effort to add 50,000 more industry credentials to the state’s workforce, $500,000 will be invested at community colleges to enhance their certification programs. Blue Ridge Community College is one of seven schools to benefit from investment, Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s office announced this week.
BRCC President John Downey said the investment would help the school boost its number of industry-recognized credentials offered for high-demand manufacturing jobs. The credentials are not earned for college credit and are open to both enrolled students and nonstudents.
The college’s welding credentials and the commercial driver’s license programs are some examples of ones that will benefit from the investment, but a full list is still being developed, Downey said.
“We’re looking at working with business to see what they need,” he said. “That’s why we’re here.”
Downey is unsure how much of the investment would go to Blue Ridge, but expects the funding to be divided evenly and according to the industry demands from each community college.
For BRCC, Downey said the funds could be used for class equipment or additional staff salaries, but that would depend on the workforce needs businesses say they have.
Other schools receiving the funding are Germanna Community College, Thomas Nelson Community College, Virginia Western Community College, Danville Community College, Patrick Henry Community College and Southside Virginia Community College. The money is part of the New Virginia Economy Strategic Plan, an executive order signed into effect in August.
Contact Amelia Brust at 574-6293 or [email protected]
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