By Kristen Uppercue
In response to the call to diversify West Virginia’s economy, many programs have been created over the past several years to train Mountain State residents to work in new industries. With the coronavirus outbreak and the impact it has had on the economy, local businesses and employment rates, these training programs have never been more important. At the onset of the statewide shutdown in March, West Virginia faced more than 90,000 unemployment claims, and that number increased as businesses temporarily halted operations or closed for good due to the pandemic. This shift in available jobs could leave many people looking for new career opportunities.
The Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy, Robert C. Byrd Institute and West Virginia Department of Education are persevering through the pandemic, working with companies throughout the state and the region to help fulfill workforce needs and equip citizens with proper training, certifications, jobs and internships in their chosen industries.
Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy
The Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy (MCA), a West Virginia National Guard-sponsored program that works with teens at risk of not graduating, plans to open its second campus in Southern West Virginia in October. The facility will be located on the former West Virginia University Institute of Technology campus in Montgomery and will serve as the 42nd National Guard Youth Challenge Program in the U.S.
Operations of the two campuses will be similar, despite the Kingwood campus—now called MCA North—being positioned on a National Guard base and MCA South being located on a former college campus. MCA North’s classes will run on a January-July cycle while MCA South will run on an April-October cycle
“At MCA North, available facilities limited the opportunity to expand,” says Bob Morris, state director of the MCA. “A second location will help more West Virginia teens and will allow the academy to better serve students south of Route 60. From a workforce standpoint, MCA South will provide quality state jobs in an area that has been hard hit.”
The MCA consists of a 22-week residential phase and a one-year post-residential phase, allowing program graduates to work with a volunteer mentor. An optional 22-week Mountaineer Job ChalleNGe Program (MJCP) is offered to graduates looking for specialized training in manufacturing technology and energy, pre-apprenticeships with building trades and health care specializations in phlebotomy.
“The MCA and the MJCP both serve an integral role in developing West Virginia’s workforce, and both programs adhere to eight core components: education excellence, citizenship, life coping skills, leadership and fellowship, job skills, health and hygiene, physical training and service to community,” says Morris. “By following these components, the academy
focuses on the whole person.”
The MCA is planning to graduate 300 cadets from its Kingwood facility and 200 cadets from its Montgomery facility every year. Currently, 85 percent of academy graduates earn their high school diplomas while in residence.
In February, the MCA was recognized as the National Guard Youth Foundation Program of the Year. Shortly after, the MCA transitioned its training to take place online in response to the pandemic. In May, cadets were given the opportunity to either continue the program online, returning to the academy for one day of testing, or come back for the next start date as new cadets.
Robert C. Byrd Institute
The Robert C. Byrd Institute (RCBI) has been working to fill the critical shortage of skilled machinists, machine operators, programmers and welders in West Virginia since 1998 with well-known initiatives like its machinist technology/computer numerical controlled and welding technology programs. As the needs of American manufacturers continue to change, RCBI continues adapting and creating programs to fill the void while also utilizing the talents and addressing the needs of underserved communities.
“The ongoing skills gap in American manufacturing demands that we cultivate a more diverse cross section of society to pursue careers in manufacturing,” says Charlotte Weber, director and CEO of RCBI. “With large numbers of baby boomers retiring and the adoption of new and emerging technologies, we must attract more women to the industry and show young people that manufacturing offers rewarding employment opportunities.”
The organization’s newest program, RecoveryWorkWV, provides formerly incarcerated women affected by the opioid crisis a pathway to manufacturing through a free, 15-week program offering machinist training, classroom instruction, on-the-job experience, peer counseling and soft skills training.
RCBI’s training programs are partnered with community and technical colleges in and around West Virginia, allowing students to simultaneously earn national certifications and an associate degree. The institute awarded the largest percentage of machinist certifications in the state in 2019 and has maintained an overall 95 percent job placement rate.
As a result of COVID-19, RCBI transitioned to online instruction and doubled the offerings of online courses. The organization plans to resume both online and in-person classes later this year while limiting the number of people in its facilities and following other safety measures. It also plans to continue its HUBZone partnership trainings with the U.S. Small Business Administration. The partnership provides training and certification assistance to manufacturers interested in bidding for government contracts, which in the last two years has increased from 23 to 56 businesses and from $10.4 million to $13.9 million in federal contract spending in the state.
“West Virginia companies cannot innovate and grow in a 21st century economy if they don’t have the skilled workers to perform essential jobs,” says Weber. “Our West Virginia workforce is the backbone of everything good our state has to offer. RCBI’s customized training provides a convenient and affordable way for manufacturers to ensure they have the skilled workforce needed to compete for and fulfill contracts and grow their businesses.”
West Virginia Department of Education
In the midst of the novel COVID-19 outbreak, it’s never been more important to offer medical training to West Virginians—a state where many residents do not have adequate access to health care. The West Virginia Department of Education’s Division of Technical and Adult Education is doing just that through its Advanced Career Education (ACE) program, which offers postsecondary technical trainings. These trainings prepare students to enter the workforce in growing industries with advanced certifications and licensures like licensed practical nursing, certified nursing assistant, medical assisting, respiratory therapist, commercial driver’s license, electrical technician and welding
“Through joint partnerships between secondary and postsecondary institutions, ACE programs are designed to be short-term, high-quality career pathways that allow students to be work ready in a year or less,” says Kathy D’Antoni, Ed.D., associate state superintendent of the West Virginia Department of Education’s Division of Technical and Adult Education. “ACE creates an engaging business and industry learning environment that empowers students to take ownership of their education by gaining job-ready skills in an authentic workplace culture.”
The West Virginia Department of Education serves all 55 counties in the state through its 21 nationally accredited ACE schools and six local career centers. Anyone with a high school diploma or equivalent can apply by contacting their local career center or visiting the program’s website.
While the ACE program saw delays and interruptions due to the pandemic, schools transitioned to virtual learning opportunities to allow students to safely continue and were permitted to reopen for in-person classes in May.
The ACE office works closely with the West Virginia Department of Commerce to consistently evaluate the state’s economic and workforce needs, encouraging local career centers to evaluate their programs as well. This allows each program to adapt and adjust its trainings based on the state’s workforce demands.
“The goal of ACE is to give students the skill sets they need to obtain a high-demand, high-wage, high-tech job in West Virginia,” says D’Antoni. “The ACE programs are training the next generation of West Virginia workers.”
