ABINGDON, Va. – Flanked by local and state legislative officials and community business leaders, Virginia Highlands Community College (VHCC) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony on Tues., November 9, for a new Advanced Technology and Workforce Development Center. The $6 million state-of-the-art facility will be located on VHCC’s campus in Abingdon and will provide classrooms and workspaces for the expansion of the College’s welding and diesel technology programs, as well as offices for Workforce Development and Continuing Education.
The new building, which was designed and will be constructed by BurWil Construction, will provide 18,000 sq. ft. of additional instructional space and state-of-the-art industrial laboratories, as well as several mixed-use areas for student collaboration, a conference room, and space for promoting technical occupations in high demand within the communities served by VHCC.
“The Advanced Technology and Workforce Development Center is another example of the strong relationship between VHCC and our community, and we’re excited about the impact of this investment in the workforce of southwest Virginia and surrounding areas,” said Dr. Adam Hutchison, president of VHCC. “We value our relationship with business and industry partners, and this facility expands our resources and capacity to train and instruct students who will become the future of our region’s workforce.”
The project is funded by private contributions, grant awards, and institutional funds. Virginia’s Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission invested in the new facility, expressing confidence it would bring expanded training capacity in high-demand occupations to the region.
“The work of Virginia Highlands is supported by an incredibly generous community,” said Laura Pennington, VHCC vice president of Institutional Advancement. “We’re grateful for the confidence our alumni, private supporters, and funding partners have placed in this project by investing to make the Advanced Technology and Workforce Development Center a reality.
VHCC’s welding and diesel technology programs are currently offered at off-campus locations. The new facility will accommodate more students and utilize upgraded technology to provide on-campus instruction for students in those programs, as well as convenient access to campus resources. The new building will also house VHCC’s Workforce Development division, which provides customized training and workplace credential programs directly to businesses and individuals.
Eddie Fultz, VHCC’s instructor of welding, said training students on campus allows the programs to expand while also keeping students motivated and connected.
“We’re striving to give our students every possible advantage to excel in their careers,” explained Fultz. “State-of-the-art facilities and technologies, as well as access to campus resources will ensure that our students perform at their best.”
Construction of the Advanced Technology and Workforce Development Center is expected to conclude in September 2022.
Those interested in giving toward the funding needed for completion of the facility, should visit vhcc.edu/give.
About Virginia Highlands Community College
Virginia Highlands Community College is one of the 23 comprehensive community colleges in the Virginia Community College System. VHCC has become a dynamic leader in Southwest Virginia with a primary goal of providing comprehensive and quality education and related services for residents throughout its region. We proudly serve the residents of Bristol Virginia, Washington County and the western portion of Smyth County. VHCC is committed to teaching, learning & community building, and serves more than 2500 students, offering more than 80 areas of academic study.