Education and Workforce
The WVU-P ITC campus is a significant venue for growth in the region. As part of a 255-acre, $ 100 million project, the $ 35 million ITC addition will offer students a modernized space and new programming.
Along with 300 new apartment units in the area, the Wood County Development Authority is working with WVU-P to build 75 single-family homes on the ITC site. Eight acres of campus will also be used to build the Vienna Elementary School.
WVU-P is also growing in the agriculture space with its farm program. The college offers agribusiness, supervisory management, horticulture and livestock programs, and has added four new buildings to its farm in the last year.
“ We are involved in a lot of things in agriculture, so that is a growing program and a need for West Virginia for us to continue to provide,” Jackson says.
Working toward advancing in the technology space, WVU-P has hired a cloud computing faculty member that, in partnership with Amazon Web Services, can help launch a degree in the sector within the next year. The university is also working with global technology company IBM on implementing a cyber range and is on track to open incubators for tech businesses, working with partners such as Tech- Connect West Virginia and LG Nova to help with coaching. To improve workforce training, WVU-P has implemented an incumbent worker training program, with the first class graduating in December.
“ It is exciting for us because these jobs can keep students here, and everything we do is about impacting the workforce and making sure we are providing jobs that allow our young people to be very successful in our area,” Jackson says.
Veronica says the Jackson County Development Authority is hosting a small business development class, where participants can have one-on-one meetings with a business coach to discuss their business goals, challenges and opportunities for growth.
“ Participants will receive individualized guidance on areas ranging from branding and packaging to digital marketing and website effectiveness, helping them strengthen their businesses and position themselves for long-term success,” she says.“ Small businesses are a vital component of Jackson County’ s economy, and supporting their growth remains a key priority for the development authority.”
To bring business and workforce development professionals together in the Mid-Ohio Valley, the Workforce Development Board MOV( WDBMOV) will host the First 8 Initiative, a year-long program educating workforce professionals on the eight industries carrying the demand for occupations in the region. This builds on the WDBMOV’ s Seeing WV’ s Future Through a Different Lens project, in which the organization obtained an Appalachian Regional Commission( ARC) grant allowing it to use virtual reality to facilitate career exploration.
“ Where the ARC grant started our efforts to facilitate increased understanding and dialogue between construction trades and public schools, the First 8 Initiative strives to facilitate increased understanding between employers and
the workforce development community toward improving the workforce participation rate and meeting the staffing needs of the region,” says Cyndi Auth, executive director of the WDBMOV.
Community Revitalization
With $ 145,982 in HOME-ARP funding from Parkersburg City Council, the Legal Aid of West Virginia Parkersburg office plans to expand housing stability services for clients through the Legal Aid Eviction Diversion Initiative.
John Williams, supervising attorney at Legal Aid, says the organization is also offering free legal clinics focused on estate planning, which run in partnership with each county’ s Family Support Center. Legal Aid’ s goal is to add more free clinics for end-of-life planning such as wills and estate planning. Individuals apply for these services through the company’ s website or by phone.
Legal Aid is presented with a check from the City of Parkersburg. Photo by Legal Aid of West Virginia, Inc.
“ We are also coordinating an expungement clinic with our local public defender’ s office for community members with prior criminal matters, aimed at reducing barriers to employment and economic stability,” Williams says.
Fleak mentions positive changes to AmeriCorps Seniors programs in the Mid-Ohio Valley, including the hiring of Karl Nan, director for the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program.
“ Two of those programs actually pay stipends to low-income seniors, and we have volunteers in about 35 counties in West Virginia,” Fleak says.
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