VANSANT, VA — Southwest Virginia Community College (Southwest) announces that Ms. Angie Farmer has joined their Workforce and Continuing education department as the manager of the much-anticipated Southern Gap Transportation & Logistics Center (SGTLC), which is located in the Southern Gap area of Buchanan County, Virginia. Farmer will be responsible for the opening and ongoing operations of the Center going forward. Farmer has previously worked in management within the private sector for 20 years, and has over 10 years of experience in the transportation industry.
“We’re excited to have Ms. Farmer on our workforce team at the college and look forward to adding transportation, logistics, and other training to our growing number of workforce training options through the SGTLC, all in support of economic development in the southwest Virginia region”, said Dr. Tommy Wright, President of Southwest Virginia Community College.
The SGTLC project has been made possible through a partnership of the Buchanan County IDA, the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA), and Southwest. The Center will offer Commercial Driver’s License (CDL), Diesel Repair Mechanic program, as well as additional credentialing programs including SNAP-ON certifications, and other in-demand workforce training to support the workforce needs of various businesses in the region.
“On behalf of the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA), we are pleased to hear of the positive progress on the opening of the Southern Gap Transportation and Logistics Center in Buchanan County. In 2018, VCEDA approved up to $5.7 million in grants to the Buchanan County Industrial Development Authority to assist with the construction, equipping, and opening of this new center, which will make Buchanan County and our region a leader in transportation and logistics workforce development and training. We have full confidence that Southwest Virginia Community College and its manager for the center, Angie Farmer, will do an excellent job in getting this exciting new program off to a great start”, stated Jonathan Belcher, Executive Director of VCEDA.
With Farmer in place, workforce training programming will be phased in at the Center through summer, with a full center opening anticipated by Fall of 2021. For example, earlier this year, SWCC began partial use of the SGTLC complex for Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) training.
“The Buchanan County Industrial Development Authority is very excited to hear that the opening of Southern Gap Transportation and Logistics Center is on the horizon. This project would not have been possible without the help of the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) and Southwest Virginia Community College. This new center will provide a myriad of excellent opportunities to the region, and prevent residents from having to travel hundreds of miles to receive similar education. We are very confident that Southwest Virginia Community College and the manager of the center, Angie Farmer, will have no issue getting this program off the ground and on a path towards success”, noted Matthew Fields, Director of Marketing & Tourism of Buchanan County IDA. Most of the training that will be offered is expected to be approved through Virginia’s Fast Forward workforce training program, which provides area residents with fast track training to industry-recognized credentials in high demand sectors. Most area residents qualify for tuition assistance through the Fast Forward and other programs. Through strategic steps to expand programming and reach students, Southwest Virginia Community College has recently emerged as a statewide community college leader by percentage growth in Fast Forward enrollment. The expanded training programs through the SGTLC is will likely allow Southwest to continue that growth into the coming years.
Angie Farmer 
Southern Gap Transportation & Logistics Center (SGTLC) 
SGTLC Logo
For more information, please contact:
Randall Rose
Dean of Workforce & Continuing Education
Southwest Virginia Community College
276-964-7683
randall.rose@sw.edu
Matthew Fields
Director of Marketing & Tourism
Buchanan County Industrial Development Authority
276-244-1542
matthew.fields@buchanancounty-va.gov