In Berkeley County, we still take pride in a job well done. The old-fashioned American work ethic is alive and well. Thanks to our impressive collection of learning institutions, we are home to a well-educated and dedicated workforce. With over 40 percent of our available labor force commuting an average of 28 minutes each way, we have a talented pool of workers that would prefer to work closer to home, spending less time on the road and more time with their families.
To keep the local workforce highly competitive and well- trained, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College offers workforce development programs to businesses in the Eastern Panhandle. Their nationally recognized curriculum provides training in a number of areas, including technology, organizational or employee development, communications, performance improvement and leadership. Their staff can also work with you to create a results-oriented training plan based on your specific needs. Blue Ridge can facilitate the process for groups of employees interested in attaining a degree or building upon credits already earned. American Management Association (AMA) Certification Courses are offered in the areas of Business Communications, General, or Human Resources. Classes can be delivered at your place of business, online or at their Martinsburg Campus.
James Rumsey Technical Institute offers customized training programs in a variety of technical programs, including welding, electrical, and industrial safety. They also offer both Allen Bradley and Siemins Programmable Logic Control training.
West Virginia is known for its loyal, dedicated, and productive work force. Realizing the critical importance of a highly skilled, technically proficient work force, the West Virginia Development Office and its partners, WORKFORCE West Virginia and the state’s extensive vocational and community technical college system are committed in providing the best turnkey solution to meet the needs of businesses for new and existing workers.
Our work force team is equipped to deploy effective strategies to recruit, screen, test and train applicants by coordinating and leveraging all available state and federal training resources, designing the best possible solution for your business. We guarantee that we will match the skills of West Virginia’s committed, available work force with existing jobs and the jobs of the future. Some of our programs include:
West Virginia Invests is a state-funded grant program that covers the full cost of basic tuition and fees for select certificate and associate degree programs at a West Virginia public two- or four-year institution. Priority is given to programs in high-demand fields, such as information technology or healthcare, as determined by the West Virginia Department of Commerce. This is a last-dollar-in program, meaning that it will pay for any amount up to the total cost of tuition and fees that isn’t already covered by other state or federal grants or scholarships.
Governor’s Guaranteed Work Force Program
West Virginia’s key customized training program. This flexible program offers customized training assistance to eligible companies by providing funding that directly supports the transfer of knowledge and skills. Companies must create a minimum of ten net new jobs within a twelve month period.
The program offers training grants for eligible companies that create a minimum of 10 new jobs within a 12-month period. It provides the following services:
- Employee recruitment
- Pre-employment assessment
- High performance workplace development
- Structured on-the-job training and development
- Workplace education
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Program
This customized training program is available to employers that hire individuals that meet specific program requirements. This program targets job seekers that are either economically disadvantaged or displaced due to job shifting in the region.
West Virginia Advance Program
This flexible program offers customized job training awards to new and existing businesses. The program offers development and delivery of training services that will support a company’s startup and ongoing employee development initiatives through a local Community and Technical College.
Workforce West Virginia
Governor Jim Justice announced the Job Jumpstart Program (JJP) to assist West Virginians returning to the workforce.
Incentives & Programs
West Virginia places importance on training and supporting the next generation of workers.
