Work Talk

In June of 2021, the US Department of Labor announced the award of 89 million dollars in grants in 31 states and Puerto Rico to help youth ages 16 to 24, who are neither enrolled in school nor participating in the labor market. YouthBuild grants support a pre-apprenticeship model to help these youth learn valuable occupational skills.

In this episode, you'll hear from 2 organizations in Virginia that received YouthBuild grant funding, Goodwill Industries of the Valleys and the New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Area Consortium Board. Discover how the YouthBuild grant funds will be implements and each organization's vision for the project.

In this episode, you'll hear from 2 regional economic development leaders about how they work with the Virginia Economic Development and the efforts that are underway to support and grow targeted industries. Discover the importance of placemaking and infrastructure improvements in attracting and retaining businesses and talent to the region.

In this episode, you'll learn about Strengthening Our System, Inc. (SOS) and the services that they provide for individuals with disabilities and individuals with mental health concerns. Discover the history of the organization, the job opportunities that are available, and the necessary requirements to get started in this field.

In this episode, you'll discover the story of Blue Ridge Designs, a Carroll County-based screen-printed apparel manufacturer. Discover the job opportunities available with Blue Ridge Designs, and the application and hiring process.

In this episode, you'll hear from a guest panel about the Virginia Road to Success Program (RSVP) which focuses on helping individuals increase self-sufficiency through stable continuous employment. Discover the key partnerships that help the RSVP program to assist participants in obtaining employment that leads to self-sufficiency along an identified career pathway.

Stephen Moret, President and CEO of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, joins the program to discuss the work that his organization is doing to advance economic growth and economic development across the Commonwealth of Virginia. He also discusses the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on Virginia's economy and the efforts that are underway to help the state fully recover.

In this episode, you'll learn about the POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative. The initiative targets federal resources to help communities and regions that have been affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries due to the changing economics of America's energy production.

Discover how the POWER Initiative supports efforts to create a more vibrant economic future for coal-impacted communities by cultivating economic diversity, enhancing job training and re-employment opportunities, creating jobs in existing or new industries, and attracting new sources of investment.

In this episode, you'll hear about youth programming available in the region. Discover eligibility requirements, services offered, and how to connect youth to educational and training opportunities to achieve their overall employment goals.

This community awareness podcast provides an update on available job seeker services and programs. Discover how to connect with employers during the COVID-19 pandemic, how to identify training opportunities and wraparound services, and more.

Rick Sizemore, Media Specialist at the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, and former Director of the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center, joins the program to discuss the mission and impact of the VR Workforce Studio Podcast. Rick reveals what it's like to host and produce the podcast, and the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had both on the delivery of services to persons with disabilities, as well as messaging.