{"id":947,"date":"2021-08-03T06:01:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-03T10:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sw.edu\/news\/?p=947"},"modified":"2021-08-03T06:01:00","modified_gmt":"2021-08-03T10:01:00","slug":"welder-training-program-expanding-into-bluefield-area","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sw.edu\/news\/2021\/08\/03\/welder-training-program-expanding-into-bluefield-area\/","title":{"rendered":"Welder Training Program Expanding into Bluefield Area"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

BLUEFIELD, VA \u2014 <\/strong>Southwest Virginia Community College continues to expand educational and training opportunities in the region by announcing today plans to offer welding and training for other workforce fast track credentials at its new Bluestone workforce training facility, located in the Bluestone area near Bluefield, VA. The expansion was made possible through a partnership with Tazewell County Industrial Development Authority, who leased the facility to the college, and the Virginia Tobacco Regional Revitalization Commission, who is providing most of training equipment that will be used at the facility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThis is a great opportunity for us to offer American Welding Society (AWS) certified training to support the high-demand welding sector and specifically employers in that part of the college\u2019s service region,\u201d said Randall Rose, Dean of Workforce & Continuing Education at the college. \u201cThe added training facility will serve as a satellite site to our new Bluefield Center, as Southwest steadily adds academic classes and workforce training opportunities for that region overall\u201d, Rose continued. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Randy Rose (left) and John Mullins (right) inspect a Lincoln Electric welder delivered to the training facility.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

Welding classes are scheduled to start at the facility in August, with plans for ongoing training to meet demand. The facility will also be used to provide customized welding and manufacturing training for area businesses and manufacturers as feasible. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Student participation in Southwest Virginia Community College\u2019s workforce training programs has increased significantly in recent years, even though the pandemic, primarily because of the college\u2019s steady expansion of fast track credentialing training classes in various in-demand sectors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Southwest Virginia Community College is dedicated to becoming a premier workforce training provider of the Virginia Community College System and our region. This partnership and additional workforce training facility is yet another example of the steps we are taking to reach that goal,” stated Dr. Tommy Wright, president of Southwest Virginia Community College. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most Virginia resident students who participate in training at the new facility will be supported through various tuition assistance programs, including Virginia\u2019s new G3 program which started earlier this month. Some residents may also qualify for an additional financial award through the relatively new Virginia Ready program. Interested individuals should contact the college at 276-964-7244 or workforce@sw.edu<\/a> to learn more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Southwest Virginia Community College is dedicated to providing quality workforce training and solutions to support the region\u2019s employers and economic development overall.  The college has proudly served residents, businesses, and organizations of the region, including the counties of Buchanan, parts of Dickenson, Russell, and Tazewell, since 1967.<\/p>\n\n\n\n