Apprenticeship Training

The apprenticeship training program for businesses combines supervised, on-the-job training, with classroom instruction, to help businesses meet skilled workforce needs. Apprentices learn the "how to" of their occupation on-the-job, under the direction of highly skilled employees, and the "why" in related, technical instruction in the classroom. Apprenticeship is on-the-job training, related instruction, and is state-certified training for either new or existing employees. There are numerous occupations identified as apprenticeable, such as machinist, electrician, plumber, sheet metal worker, machine repairer, cosmetologist, optician, building maintenance repairer, etc. Classroom training is available for the trades listed, and can be set up for those not listed. Contact Connie Perry, Department of Labor and Industry, at (540) 562-3580, extension 120, or Earl Henritze, Gibboney Technical Center, at (540) 853-1061.

Virginia Employment Commission (VEC)

The VEC can help employers find qualified workers by referring workers to fill jobs listed with the VEC; making it easy for companies to list openings; providing prompt referrals; offering access to thousands of applicants; conducting mass recruitments to help fill a large number of job vacancies; charging no fees to employers or job seekers; serving all types and sizes of businesses and industries; filling all kinds of jobs; and involving employers in the process, through the VEC Employer Advisory Committee. Additional assistance includes alien labor certification, bonding, federal contractor job listing, labor market information, worker's profiling, and a reemployment service. Contact VEC at (540) 561-7525.

Virginia Department of Rehabilitative Services (DRS)

This agency offers employers access to knowledgeable, skilled and productive employees at no cost to help meet their specific labor needs. Other services available are training employees, work force recruitment, accommodating employees, educational programs, and resources. Contact DRS at (540) 776-2740.

works with business, industry, and government to provide seminars, professional development courses, and customized training programs to meet the business needs of the community. Programs are designed to provide short- or long-term training to upgrade skills in relation to advances in technical fields and increasing professional capabilities. Contact Mike Byrd, , Workforce Development and Lifelong Learning, at (540) 857-7315.

Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP)

The Virginia Department of Business Assistance offers the Small Business New Jobs Program, the Retraining Program and the New Jobs Program. The Small Business New Jobs Program will provide staff to work with for-profit, existing, non-retail companies having been in operation a minimum of one year. Customized recruiting and training programs will be developed for newly created jobs. To be eligible, companies must create a minimum of 5 net new, full-time jobs, within a 12 month time frame, and at least 5 net new jobs each year of the 36 month cycle to remain in the program, have a total of no more than 250 employees company-wide, and make a minimum capital investment of $100,000. A minimum entry-level wage rate of $10.00 per hour is required. The Retraining Program will provide consulting services and grants to assist in retraining a company's existing work force. Retraining will mean an upgrade in skills for existing employees designated as essential to the production or distribution of a product. To be eligible, a company must have a minimum of ten (10) full-time employees needing retraining; demonstrate it is undergoing integration of new technology into its production process; changing a product or service line in keeping with marketplace demands; or experiencing a substantial change to its service delivery process requiring assimilation of new skills and technological capabilities by the firm's existing labor force; make a new capital investment of at least $500,000; and pay a minimum entry-level wage of $10.00 per hour. The Retraining Program cannot be used more than once in a three year period. The New Jobs Program targets expansions of existing companies or new facility locations involving competition with other states or countries. A minimum of 25 net new, full-time jobs paying at least $10.00 per hour must be created with a capital investment of at least $1 million. Workforce Services conducts a recruitment and training analysis consultation to gather information. Recruiting, training, materials, instructors, videos, etc., are all provided free of charge. Contact Virginia Department of Business Assistance at (804) 371-8126 for more information.