Strengthening Virginia’s infrastructure, paving the way for Virginia’s economic growth
In partnership with the Lumina Foundation, Virginia’s Community Colleges are working to leverage resources, expand collaboration, and streamline efforts to meet the needs of in-demand infrastructure industries and provide short-term industry training and credentials leading to employment for thousands of Virginians, as well as building long-term career development training and educational opportunities.
The subject matter experts behind Virginia’s infrastructure future
Additionally, Virginia Infrastructure Academy is led by a steering committee which includes veterans of the field, including:
Dr. Peter Anderson
New River Community College
Jeanian Clark
Laurel Ridge Community College
Trenton Clark
Virginia Asphalt Association
Elizabeth Creamer
Community College Workforce Alliance
Edward Dalrymple
Chemung Contracting
Virginia Board for Community Colleges
Gordon Dixon
VA Transportation Construction Alliance
Todd Estes
Community College Workforce Cooperative
Natalie Foster
Executive Director VA Ready
Ken Garrison
Heavy Construction Contractors Association
Dr. Shashuna Gray
Germanna Community College
Cedric Green
Dominion Energy
Dr. Keith Harkins
Southside Virginia Community College
Debora Harvey
Heavy Construction Contractors Association
Jessica Hoff
The Broadband Association of Virginia
Perry Hughes
Wytheville Community College
Matt Kellam
Dominion
Dr. Anne Kress
President, Northern Virginia Community College
Ray LaMura
The Broadband Association of Virginia
Dr. Corey McCray
President, Camp Community College
Kevin Ratliff
BlueRidge Community College
Dave Peterson
SHINE
Maria Tamburri
Dominion Energy
VCCS System Office Staff
Dr. Sharon Morrissey, Senior Vice Chancellor for Academic and Workforce Programs
Randall Stamper, Associate Vice Chancellor for Career Education & Workforce Development
Dr. Cat Finnegan, Assistant Vice Chancellor, Institutional Effectiveness
Dr. Angela Lawhorne, Director, Career Education Programs & Workforce Partnerships
Chris Johnston, Director, Grant Writing and Administration
Supporting diverse infrastructure needs across the commonwealth
Below is a sampling of programs within the Virginia Infrastructure Academy and a list of community colleges that specialize in those trainings.
Diesel Mechanic
Diesel Engine Mechanics perform electrical, heating and air, wheel end assembly, air system, air brakes and charging systems diagnostics and repairs.
Piedmont Virginia Community College
Southside Virginia Community College
Southwest Virginia Community College
Heavy Equipment Operator
Heavy Equipment Operators operate several types of power construction equipment, such as compressors, pumps, hoists, derricks, cranes, shovels, tractors, scrapers and motor graders.
Blue Ridge Community College
Germanna Community College
Laurel Ridge Community College
Patrick & Henry Community College
Piedmont Virginia Community College
Southwest Virginia Community College
Powerline Worker
Power Line Workers install, maintain and repair the power lines that move electricity. Workers identify defective devices, voltage regulators, transformers, and switches. Inspect and test power lines and auxiliary equipment.
Central Virginia Community College
Mountain Empire Community College
Piedmont Virginia Community College
Southside Virginia Community College
Wytheville Community College
Electrical (levels offered vary by college)
Electricians apply technical knowledge and skills to install, operate, maintain, and repair electric apparatus and systems such as residential, commercial, and industrial electric-power wiring.
Community College Workforce Alliance
Central Virginia Community College
Danville Community College
Mountain Gateway Community College
Eastern Shore Community College
Germanna Community College
Laurel Ridge Community College
Mountain Empire Community College
Piedmont Virginia Community College
Southside Virginia Community College
Tidewater Community College
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Plumbing (levels offered vary by college)
Licensed plumbers apply technical knowledge and skills to lay out, assemble, install, and maintain piping fixtures and systems for steam, natural gas, oil, hot water, heating, cooling, drainage, lubricating, sprinkling, and industrial processing systems in home and business environments.
Community College Workforce Alliance
Central Virginia Community College
Danville Community College
Germanna Community College
Laurel Ridge Community College
Mountain Empire Community College
New River Community College
Patrick & Henry Community College
Piedmont Virginia Community College
Southwest Virginia Community College
Tidewater Community College
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Carpentry (levels offered vary by college)
Carpenters apply technical knowledge and skills to lay out, cut, fabricate, erect, install, and repair wooden structures and fixtures, using hand and power tools.
Community College Workforce Alliance
Central Virginia Community College
Germanna Community College
Laurel Ridge Community College
Mountain Empire Community College
Patrick & Henry Community College
Southwest Virginia Community College
Tidewater Community College
Virginia Peninsula Community College
Commercial Driver’s License (endorsements offered vary by college)
CDL drivers have the technical knowledge and skills to drive trucks and buses, delivery vehicles, for-hire vehicles and other commercial vehicles.
All 23 of Virginia’s Community Colleges run a Commercial Driver’s License program. Note: Brightpoint Community College and Reynolds Community College operate as one workforce unit through the Community College Workforce Alliance.
We’re here for your questions.
For more information about connecting your business to VIA, connecting your workforce programs to VIA, or if you’re a student interested in enrolling in a VIA training, please contact Sam Northington at snorthington@vccs.edu or 804-819-5388. Interested students can also reach out directly to their local community college to ask about current offerings.
There are no scheduled events. To see a list of archived training events, download a list here.