DIDIV-SV Partnership

Dream it. Do it. Virginia -- Shenandoah Valley Campaign Announces Mini-grant Recipients

Campaign connects Valley students with careers in advanced technology and manufacturing

October 18, 2010

Harrisonburg, VA – Exactly one year since its official kick off, the Dream It. Do It. Virginia – Shenandoah Valley campaign announces mini-grant recipients to help connect Valley students with careers in advanced technology and manufacturing. Fifteen mini-grant recipients will receive a total of $95,904 to implement activities that encourage students to explore careers in manufacturing, healthcare, information technology, construction, and green related occupations. Implementation of the awarded projects will impact over 7,000 students in 19 high schools, seven technical centers, and six middle schools.

The business, education, and economic development communities in the Shenandoah Valley have partnered with the Virginia Manufacturers Association to bring the Dream It. Do It. Virginia campaign to our region to:

Promote an accurate image of the 21st Century advanced technology economy
Broaden awareness of advanced technology and skilled trades careers in our region
Promote local training and employment opportunities for careers in advanced technology and the skilled trades
Connect job-seekers with local employers who are in demand for skilled trades employees

The campaign is managed by the Shenandoah Valley Partnership (SVP) and the Shenandoah Valley Workforce Investment Board (SVWIB) and covers 20 localities – from Frederick County in the north, to Botetourt County in the south. The mini-grants are a partnership between SVP, SVWIB, the Tech Prep Consortia from Lord Fairfax Community College, Blue Ridge Community College, and Dabney S. Lancaster Community College, and funding partners: the City of Harrisonburg, the Virginia Department of Business Assistance, and the Shenandoah Valley Energy Partnership.

“The DIDIV-SV mini-grants support our goal to enlighten the workforce of the future and assure that the worker pipeline is filled with the same productive employees that have always been the hallmark of the Valley,” remarked Robin Sullenberger, CEO of the Shenandoah Valley Partnership, Inc.

“This regional collaboration through DIDIV-SV will provide an opportunity for thousands of students to explore manufacturing and other advanced technology industries. It provides a foundation on which to build tomorrow’s workers,” comments Sharon Johnson, Director, Shenandoah Valley Energy Partnership, SVWIB.

Governor Bob McDonnell has declared October 18 – 22, 2010 as Manufacturing Appreciation Week in Virginia. One of the fundamental strengths of Virginia’s economy is its vibrant and globally competitive manufacturers. Manufacturing creates state and local wealth by adding value to raw materials through the application of people’s skills and the substantial investment in tools, energy and technology. Manufacturing represents $34 billion of Virginia’s Gross State Product, and 7% of Virginia’s private workers are directly employed in manufacturing activities. Thousands more employees and millions more of Virginia’s Gross State Product in the service sector are dependant upon manufacturing. Manufacturing is a high-wage and high technology sector of the Commonwealth’s economy.

The recipients of the Dream It. Do It. Virginia – Shenandoah Valley mini-grants are:

Admiral Richard E. Byrd Middle School, Dowell J. Howard Technical Center, Frederick County Middle School, James Wood High School, James Wood Middle School, Millbrook High School, R.E. Aylor Middle School, and Sherando High School (Frederick County) – to support the implementation of Alternative Energy learning modules into the engineering, electricity and carpentry, and technology education programs
Botetourt Technical Education Center, Floyd S. Kay Technical Center, Jackson River Technical Center, Mertz Technical Center, and Parry McCluer High School (Alleghany, Bath, Botetourt, and Rockbridge Counties, Buena Vista and Covington) – to support student tours of four programs at Dabney S. Lancaster Community College: forest management technology, welding technology, advanced manufacturing and packaging technology, and wind turbine service technology
Clarke County High School (Clarke County) – to support a FIRST Robotics team, mentored by local industries
Fauquier High School (Fauquier County) – to support the implementation of Green Construction learning modules into the building trades program
John Handley High School (Winchester) – to support a career fair featuring local industries
Montevideo Middle School (Rockingham County) – to support a student-led production of a television broadcast focused on the “green” movement
Parry McClure High School (Buena Vista) – to support tours of and presentations by a local manufacturer of energy recovery products
Robert E. Lee High School (Staunton) – to support industry tours and follow-up projects related to engineering, science and software development, and graphic design and management
Valley Vocational Technical Center (Augusta County) – to support the start of an in-facility state testing site for Certified Nursing Aides
Waynesboro High School (Waynesboro) – to support industry tours in local healthcare, manufacturing, agribusiness, financial, and educational organizations
Wilson Middle School (Augusta County) – to design and produce packaging for a student produced product with a focus on recycled materials and efficient manufacturing processes
Winchester – Frederick County Economic Development Commission (Winchester & Frederick County) – to support industry tours by area students, teachers and counselors
Page County Technical Center – to design, install, test and maintain a small solar photovoltaic system
Massanutten Technical Center (Rockingham County) – to use solar cells to create a source of off-grid renewable energy to power a series of computers and control a programmable robotic arm
Rappahannock County High School – for home energy auditing and building performance retrofitting

A summary of these innovative projects and their impact on the region’s students will be compiled and shared in the spring.

For more information about Dream It. Do It. Virginia - Shenandoah Valley, visit www.dreamit-doit.com/Virginia/shenandoah

CONTACT: Sharon Johnson
Director, Regional Workforce Development
Director, Shenandoah Valley Energy Partnership
Shenandoah Valley Workforce Investment Board, Inc.
(540) 649-4322 • [email protected]