SOUTH CHARLESTON, W.Va. — More than 70 students from ten West Virginia counties are already on the job while still in college for advanced manufacturing and information technology as part of BridgeValley Community and Technical College’s TechHire Initiative.
That first class of students started two-year programs in January at the Southern West Virginia Advanced Technology Center in Kanawha County and the next class begins this fall, according to Dr. Carol Perry, BridgeValley’s TechHire program director.
“The students are looking at different programs from welding, advanced manufacturing technology itself, electrical engineering technology, mechanical engineering technology,” Perry explained. “Under the IT, we also have cybersecurity, programming, networking.”
TechHire graduates could potentially go on to work as computer system analysts, software developers, web developers, computer user support specialists, industrial machinery mechanics, machinists and instrumentation technicians among others.
BridgeValley Community and Technical College, which operates the Advanced Technology Center, was one of 39 sites chosen from more than 200 applicants in July 2016 for $4 million in TechHire grant funding from the U.S. Department of Labor.
Additional leveraged resources from private employers and regional economic development organizations have totaled $3.1 million.
“We were thrilled to death to get it,” said Perry of the grant funding. She sees the potential “to change lives.”
Participating students are “learning and earning.” Their time is split between class and worksites for 13 participating employers paying at least $10 an hour. In part, the grant funding reimburses employers for 50 percent of student salaries.
“The employer, basically, has a long-term interview with the student, so they (the students) know the employers. The student has the skills (needed) and understands the true work environment,” Perry said of the arrangement.
Two student success coaches have also been hired to provide academic and employment support for those enrolled in TechHire.
The TechHire target population is people ages 17 to 29 who may be dislocated or unemployed in the following counties: Boone, Cabell, Clay, Fayette, Jackson, Kanawha, Lincoln, Mason, Putnam and Wayne.
In terms of education, more than half earned a high school diploma or less and most are first generation college students drawing financial aid in some form.
“Some of them are, maybe, right out of high school. Some of them have been out of school for a while and cannot get a skilled job, they’re part-time work or whatever,” Perry said.
“A lot of these people were expecting to go into the coal mines and those jobs aren’t there, so now what do they do? This is a way of providing them the skills so they can be successful and have good, high-paying jobs.”
As of now, U.S. Department of Labor grant funding for TechHire is scheduled to continue through June 30, 2020. In that time, Perry said 400 West Virginians could be trained for jobs in IT and advanced manufacturing.
A rolling admissions process continues into August for the next TechHire class.
For more information on TechHire, CLICK HERE.