Manufacturing Skills Institute unveiled at SVHEC

The Virginia Manufacturers Association and ECPI University unveiled the new Manufacturing Skills Institute Friday afternoon at the SVHEC-Innovation Center, located at 820 Bruce St. in South Boston.

The Manufacturing Skills Institute is a flexible education and workforce training system that aligns regional employer needs, industry-recognized credentials and economic development objectives.

The institute will provide education and training programs for both existing and emerging technology skills within the Mid-Atlantic with the goal of making Southern Virginia an internationally-recognized hub for advanced manufacturing training and education.

Additionally, ECPI is offering select advanced manufacturing skills certificates that translate into advanced standing college credits.

"The system will be phased-in and will include a portfolio of world-class education and skills training that leads to competency-based, industry recognized and stackable credentials," said Brett Vassey, Virginia Manufacturers Association president and CEO.

He described the partnership as an "industry-based, outcome-based program that leads to jobs."

The Manufacturing Skills Institute will provide relevant education and skills training for careers in advanced manufacturing by offering targeted training programs delivered by Manufacturing Skills Institute and partner institutions.

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Manufacturing Skills Institute calls South Boston home

South Boston has been chosen as the home of the new Manufacturing Skills Institute, a public-private partnership to develop skilled workers for advanced manufacturing companies that operate in the region and across Virginia.

The new MSI, a collaboration between the Virginia Manufacturers Association and ECPI University, will be housed at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center, where government, education and business leaders gathered for Friday's announcement.

"This is unique and a gem,"said Brett Vassey, president and CEO of the Virginia Manufacturers Association, who said the new center will provide education and training which in turn will spur the creation of manufacturing jobs throughout the region.

The Manufacturing Skills Institute will operate in partnership with the SVHEC, the Modeling & Simulation Center of Excellence at Riverstone Energy Center, the National Center for Coatings Application, Research, and Education (C-CARE) and the National Technology Transfer at the Research & Development Center for Advanced Manufacturing & Energy Efficiency (R&D CAMEE), located at the SVHEC Innovation Center.

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James Madison to offer workforce courses in SoBo

After four years of discussions, James Madison University and the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center have forged a partnership with JMU offering several noncredit workforce-focused online programs in affiliation with the SVHEC.

Course offerings will include healthcare, paralegal, computer technician, six-sigma green belt, six-sigma black belt, human resource management, financial planning and certified manager.

Students successfully completing the courses will earn certificates of completion from JMU. In addition, certifications will be available through JMU in five healthcare fields including medical coding and billing, medical transcription, pharmacy technician, medical administrative assistant and medical technology.

"This is the mutually beneficial partnership we've been looking for," said Carol Fleming, JMU senior director for outreach and engagement.

"It took four years to do it, but we're thrilled. We're excited, and I know the center (the SVHEC) is excited as well."

The reason the partnership took so long to come to fruition, Fleming said, was that it took that long to find the right programs to fill the needs of the people of Southside Virginia and fit into the needs of the SVHEC.

"It was the SVHEC and the JMU Outreach and Engagement division trying to find what it was we were going to partner on," Fleming explained during Wednesday's announcement of the new partnership.

"On the credit side, there are a lot of universities here (at the SVHEC). The universities may be already offering what we're offering. It makes no sense for us to come down here and offer something that is already here.

"We wanted to fill a hole," she added.

"We wanted to offer something that wasn't here."

All of the program offerings are online programs, with participants having the ability to take the courses at the SVHEC or at their homes.

"Students can come here to do it, or they can do it at home," Fleming noted.

"Each of the programs has a different timeline. You have 21 months to finish it, but you can finish it in six months if you want. It's a restricted timeline, but you do it on your own time."

Fleming pointed out that the courses and programs that JMU will offer will benefit a number of individuals in the area workforce.

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Council OKs Poplar Creek rezoning for ‘Green Acres’

The Poplar Creek Subdivision may be "the place to be" after South Boston Town Council approved rezoning of 17 lots in the Poplar Creek Subdivision to allow for construction of "green energy" housing.

Council's action came after a public hearing in which no one spoke either for or against the rezoning.

Acting on a planning commission recommendation, council voted unanimously to rezone 17 lots in the Poplar Creek Subdivision from R-2 Medium Density Residential to R-3 Medium Density Residential in the 4.29-acre area.

The lots in question are owned by the town and are fronted on Poplar Creek Street, Harrell Street and Terry Avenue.

Town Manager Ted Daniel told council site preparation such as grading work has been completed, adding construction is slated to begin next month on eco-mod houses on two lots.

"Many of the lots are nonconforming because they're less than the required 8,000 square feet in area for R-2 zoning," Daniel told council.

"A preliminary plat realigns some streets to accommodate the new subdivision," he added.

The first five lots slated for eco-mod housing have already been accommodated with existing water and sewer, Daniel continued.

Pointing to preliminary plans for the subdivision, the town manager noted two triangular-shaped lots, one possibly to be used for storm water management, the other with potential for a neighborhood park.

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New extension staffer excited by possibilities

Chris Brown's eyes light up as he talks about the opportunities he sees awaiting in his new job as associate extension agent for agriculture and natural resources in Halifax County.

I'm happy to have been named to the position," says Brown, who added he is hoping to meet and greet Halifax County residents on Wednesday, December 5 when a floating reception is planned for him from 2 to 4:30 p.m. at the Virginia Extension Service Office in Halifax.

Brown, born and raised in Franklin County, said he did not grow up on the farm, but his grandparents and great grandparents were tobacco growers. He dates his interest in agriculture to the seventh grade, when he began work with a local beef cattle producer, repairing fences and cutting hay.

He received his bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech in 2004 in animal and poultry science.

He first taught agriculture at Chatham High School and then went back to Tech and got his master's degree in 2010. For the last year he worked with Halifax County in the General Properties Department.

As he surveys the scene among local agricultural producers, Brown notes that the average age of the local farmer is 60. He expresses concerns about younger farmers and is anxious to work with them, noting that many are transitioning from the traditional tobacco crop to other commodities —cattle, livestock, vegetables, fruits, grapes, wineries and forestry.

He is also happy to be a part of the Extensive service where employees work together and support each other, he says. He notes that he can call on the experts at Virginia Tech to help him out when he doesn't know the answers to questions that may arise. "They will be mentoring me for the next year and helping me when I don't always know the answer."

"I'm glad to be in the line of work that keeps food supplied locally," Brown said. He is married to Leah Brown, the county's agriculture development director and the two share a love of agriculture and its many aspects.

from The News and Record

$10,000 grant set for tourism marketing

The Halifax County Department of Tourism, The Prizery and the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center have received a $10,000 grant from the Virginia Tourism Corporation Leverage Grant program.

Grants are designed to help local and regional tourism entities attract more visitors by leveraging local marketing dollars. In all, Governor Bob McDonnell awarded more than $543,000 in matching grant funds to 37 local tourism initiatives.

The local grant will be used to promote a marketing campaign entitled "Halifax County: Your Meeting Destination."

Tourism Director Linda Shepperd points out the campaign will bring an increased awareness to meeting planners throughout Virginia and surrounding areas.

Pointing to the amenities and facilities available at both The Prizery and the Southern Virginia Education Center, she noted that both have successfully hosted-day long meetings. Now the hope is to attract meetings that include an overnight stay, she said.

Such events would benefit the entire community through increased spending and tax revenues, Shepperd added.

Another grant for $1,549 was awarded to the Roanoke River Rails to Trails, Inc., which is establishing a trails system in Halifax, Mecklenburg and Brunswick counties. The money will be used to make the trail's web site more user friendly and interactive, according to Heather Susee of the Virginia Tourism Corporation.

McDonnell said in a statement that because of the grants, localities are able "to more effectively market themselves to potential visitors. When more visitors come to Virginia, the Commonwealth and the localities realize increased tax revenue, businesses prosper and new jobs are created."

He called Virginia's tourism "an instant revenue generator" and claimed that the state generated over $20.4 billion in revenue in 2011 and supported 207,000 jobs and provided $1.32 billion in state and local taxes.

from The News and Record

SoBo-Halifax County Tourism gets $10,000 marketing grant

South Boston-Halifax County Department of Tourism has received a $10,000 marketing grant to promote “Halifax County: Your Meeting Destination.”

In March, the tourism department moved into its newly renovated 4,200 square foot Visitor Center, located at the intersection of Highways 58 and 360 near Riverdale.

Gov. Bob McDonnell announced Monday the local department of tourism is one of 37 tourism initiatives being awarded more than $543,000 in matching grant funds as part of Virginia Tourism Corporation’s Marketing Leverage Grant program. 

The grants help local and regional tourism entities attract more visitors by leveraging local marketing dollars. The local organizations match the state grant funds by a minimum of 3:1 to create marketing projects such as websites, signage, social media and advertisements.

 “Grants such as these enable our localities to more effectively market themselves to potential visitors,” said McDonnell. “When more visitors come to Virginia, the commonwealth and the localities realize increased tax revenue, businesses prosper, and new jobs are created.” 

 Tourism is an instant revenue generator for Virginia. In 2011 tourism generated $20.4 billion in revenue, supported 207,000 jobs and provided $1.32 billion in state and local taxes. Dollars invested in tourism are proven to provide a 5:1 return in tax revenue for Virginia, and the grant awards and matching funds provide a stimulus to localities seeking to increase tourism visitation and revenue. 

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New extension agent wants to see farmers succeed

With a strong passion for agriculture and a desire to see farmers succeed, Chris Brown has joined the Virginia Cooperative Extension as an associate extension agent for agriculture and natural resources in Halifax County.

After living in the county for more than a year with his wife, Leah, Brown decided to start applying for agriculture positions.

His wife currently serves as Halifax County's agriculture development director.

Brown received his bachelor's degree from Virginia Tech in 2009 majoring in animal and poultry science. In 2010 he received his master's degree in career and technical education.

Before taking the position in Halifax, Brown worked as an agriculture teacher in Pittsylvania County and worked for county maintenance for nearly a year.

"It is only my second day on the job, but what I enjoy most is that there is something different every day. It's never the same thing," said Brown on Tuesday.

The new extension agent said his job duties include responding to producers' interests and needs related to crops, animal science and financial management.

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