Workforce Recruitment and Training

One of the most valuable incentives offered to companies, both new and expanding, is the Workforce Services Program provided by the Virginia Department of Business Assistance. DBA offers three workforce training programs:

The Virginia Jobs Investment Programs partially reimburses qualified companies for costs associated with recruiting, hiring, and training employees. Additionally, DBA also uses its in-house production company to produce, at no cost the company, training videos. Each video is customized, with the company writing the script and controlling the content. In addition to cost reimbursement, DBA staff can assist with identifying hiring needs, mapping a recruitment strategy, and analyzing training programs. DBA provides free classes  such as "Train the Trainer" to qualified companies. There are two ways that a company can qualify for new jobs assistance:

New Jobs Program: Requires a minimum 25 new jobs and $1 million of new capital investment, and the project must put Virginia in competition with at least one other state or country. Only full-time jobs paying at least $10.00/hour qualify. Retail-based companies are ineligible for assistance.

Small Business New Jobs Program: Requires a minimum 5 new jobs and $100,000 of new capital investment. Limited to companies that employ no more than 250 people company-wide. Only full-time jobs paying at least $10.00/hour qualify. Companies must create 5 new jobs in each of years two and three to remain in the program for the full 36 months. Retail-based companies are ineligible for assistance.

DBA also offers a Retraining Program to qualified companies to assist with keeping the workforce competitive in a global environment. The Retraining Program partially offsets costs associated with training employees on new technologies. The program requires at least 10 jobs needing retraining and $500,000 of new capital investment. Only full-time jobs paying at least $10.00/hour qualify.

Wytheville Community College

Wytheville Community College is a comprehensive two year university that is one of 23 colleges in the Virginia Community College System. WCC enrolls over 4,500 students annually in credit courses and offers a variety of workforce improvement opportunities. WCC offers a variety of programs and the Department of Continuing Education works with companies to develop and implement customized training programs. Services offered by WCC include Work Keys Assessment and on-site training.

The Manufacturing Technology Center

The Manufacturing Technology Center (MTC) is a federal and state supported not-for-profit Engineering outreach and consulting service established in 1995. It is part of a nationwide network of NIST-MEP (National Institute of Standards and Technology-Manufacturing Extension Partnership) offices. The MTC serves the 17 counties of Southwest Virginia including Wythe County and the Town of Wytheville. The MTC's mission is to enhance the competitiveness of the businesses in our region by providing training, demonstrations, and implementations using the most advanced methodologies available including: Lean Manufacturing, Six Sigma, ISO,SPC, and other related continuous improvement tools and techniques.

The MTC also offers a wide range of on-site environmental compliance services delivered by a licensed professional Engineer. MTC Engineers average over 20 years of industry experience, come from a wide range of disciplines, and hold numerous certifications such as Six Sigma Black Belt and NIST licensure as Lean Manufacturing trainers and implementers.

For more information contact the MTC at 276-223-4709 or visit our website at www.mtcofswva.org.