Governor Tomblin Announces West Virginia to Receive Grant Funding for Workforce Development

Press Release

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin today announced West Virginia was selected by the National Governors Association (NGA) to receive grant funding and additional support to expand workforce education and training programs as part of a two-year program hosted by the NGA Policy Academy to align education and training systems to the needs of state economies.

"West Virginia workforce projections indicate 44% of job openings in the next 10 years will require more than a high school education, but less than a four-year degree," Gov. Tomblin said. "Our middle schools and community and technical colleges are adapting curriculums to meet the needs of new and expanding businesses in the Mountain State, and this partnership will give us the opportunity to collaborate with leaders and other states from across the country to expand our current training programs and while supporting companies investing in West Virginia."

As a member of the Learning Network, West Virginia will receive $10,000 in grant funding as well as ongoing support from the NGA Center for Best Practices and outside experts to expand current workforce development efforts. Those include tailoring education and training programs to meet state-specific needs, integrating education and workforce data to increase training opportunities and strengthening and building new partnerships between industry and education.

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