BridgeValley Community & Technical College receives Federal Highway Administration grant
The Federal Highway Administration’s 2024 Highway Construction Training Program grant has awarded the college $257,408 to launch the West Virginia Advanced Highway Training Program.
BridgeValley Community & Technical College has received a $257,408 grant from the Federal Administration’s 2024 Highway Construction Training Program. The college will use the funding to launch the West Virginia Advanced Highway Training Program, which will serve to expand the college’s existing Highway Engineering Technology Associate of Applied Science degree to include additional hands-on training and opportunities to earn credentials that are essential for working in the industry.
According to an article on BridgeValley Community & Technical College’s website, Kristi Sarrett, who serves as the Dean of Workforce Development and Technical Education, was quoted as saying of the grant, “This investment supports our continued commitment to building the skilled workforce needed to maintain and modernize West Virginia’s infrastructure. Graduates of this program will gain the specialized knowledge, certifications, and real-world experience that directly translate into strong career opportunities.”
The new additions to the Highway Engineering Technology Associate of Applied Science degree program include hands-on training in highway construction and bridge inspection. These additions are designed to help students train for in-demand careers and, along with the credentials they will earn, will give students a competitive edge within the workforce.
The college will be focused on reaching marginalized and underrepresented individuals with the grant funding to ensure workforce training is accessible to and accessed by those who would benefit from it the most. The college is partnering with various other institutions, like the West Virginia Department of Transportation, state certification boards, public engineering consulting firms, the West Virginia Community and Technical College System, and local job centers to provide outreach, recruitment, and training.
For more information about BridgeValley Community & Technical College, visit the school’s website.