CVCC receives $1.5 million work-based grant, potential for $50 million in campus renovations
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The U.S. Department of Labor awarded Central Virginia Community College $1.5 million to expand its advanced manufacturing and work-based learning programs.
The grant is a total of $1,514,520 over four years, with funding available beginning Feb. 1.
This funding is part of a $65 million investment that aims to “increase access to affordable, high-quality training, particularly in industries such as advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, and biotechnology,” a CVCC news release states.
“So, we’ll be working with our business partners to attract more students to those advanced manufacturing pathways with an accent, once again, on the importance of dual enrollment,” said John Capps, CVCC president. “When they come to CVCC, then we’ll try to provide them with a work-based learning opportunity so that they’ll be workforce-ready by the time they complete the course.”
This grant also will help address the growing need in the greater Lynchburg region for skilled workers, the news release said.
“This grant not only supports our students, but also contributes to the economic vitality of Central Virginia,” Capps said in the news release. “It reflects our ongoing dedication to empowering our community and fostering innovative solutions to workforce challenges.”
Work-based learning is one of CVCC’s signature initiatives right now, Capps said. This grant will allow the college to hire a work-based learning coordinator and additional personnel in the career center.
“It’s got a decided emphasis on dual enrollment,” Capps said. “It’s also designed to close various equity gaps in our community.”
CVCC is partnering with local schools, community organizations and employers such as Framatome, Delta Star and BWX Technologies, the news release said.
“So, this is really going to be a full court press to attract more individuals to advanced manufacturing and provide our workforce partners with the skills that they need to succeed,” Capps said.
Gov. Glenn Youngkin included $50 million in funding for construction renovations at CVCC in the state’s 2025 introduced amendments to the biennial budget.
Capps said CVCC has been trying to find funding for six years to renovate Campbell and Amherst Halls on campus.
“We left for Christmas break in 2019,” said Lewis Bryant, CVCC vice president of finance and administration. “We turned back, and the project immediately went on hold as we walked into the new world of COVID.”
There are three major steps in the design process for these renovations, and Bryant said the college has completed two.
The schematic design process finished in December 2019, and then a six-month preliminary design process finished in June 2023.
The final stage is the working drawing stage, which still has to be completed. This will result in more detailed drawings the construction companies can use to turn in a bid.
Bryant said the expected duration of this stage is 34 to 36 weeks, and the goal is to finish by the end of 2025.
Capps said CVCC passed the biggest hurdle, which is to get into the governor’s introduced budget. The General Assembly still has to review and amend this budget.
“We’ve got a ticket, but the ticket has not been punched yet,” Capps said.
