Adam Cabo

The grant funding will allow the college to establish a new initiative, called Connect, Belong, Succeed, to support first-generation college students.

The initiative, which will help support first-generation college students, has been made possible by a $25,000 grant from the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education.

The new agreement will allow employees of Pierpont Community and Technical College to attend a bachelor or master degree program at Fairmont State University at comparable tuition to the community college’s tuition.

The Hawk’s Nest Food Pantry has been opened at New River Community and Technical College’s Raleigh County Campus, providing students with free food and other essentials.

The grant comes from the Appalachian Regional Commission’s (ARC) Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative, and will enhance the state’s advanced manufacturing workforce.