August 2, 2019
Laurel Ridge will be expanding its electrical and HVAC programming thanks to $182,466 in FastForward Workforce Training Grant money. The programs are among the short-term training courses for which eligible students will only have to pay one-third of the program cost.
Lord Fairfax is one of the 23 community colleges that make up the Virginia Community College System (VCCS). The VCCS is directing $2.75 million in Fastforward funding to community colleges to create new high-demand training programs and expand existing ones.
“These grants reaffirm our commitment to helping Virginians start, or re-start their careers” says Glenn DuBois, chancellor of Virginia’s Community Colleges.
The chancellor adds that more than 16,000 credentials have been awarded around Virginia since the FastForward program’s launch three years ago. Program graduates typically boost their take-home pay 25-50 percent in weeks, rather than years.
“In Laurel Ridge’s case, electrical and HVAC training were selected because of the high demand for workers trained in those fields,” says Workforce Solutions Director of Marketing Guy Curtis. “This funding will help us meet that demand and allow for additional expansion and equipment at our training sites.”
FastForward grant funding was a top VCCS priority during the past legislative session, Curtis notes.
“Legislators agreed to increase funding for Virginia’s Workforce Credential Grants, which support VCCS’s FastForward workforce training programs,” he says. “The additional funding will boost FastForward grant funding in the next budget year to $13.5 million – a 42-percent increase.”
Laurel Ridge Workforce Solutions offers the following FastForward-eligible programs:
- CompTIA IT Certifications
- Heavy Equipment Operator
- Commercial Truck Driver
- Nursing Aide
- Medical Assistant Full Program
- Medication Aide
- Medical Scribe
- Patient Service Representative
- Phlebotomy Technician
- Manufacturing Technician
- Construction Project Management
- Electrical Apprenticeship
- HVAC Apprenticeship
- Plumbing Apprenticeship
Find out more at www.lfccworkforce.com/fastforward, or call (540) 868-7021.
Founded in 1970, Laurel Ridge Community College is a multi-campus public institution of higher education. With three locations — Middletown, Warrenton, and Luray-Page County — the College serves eight localities in the Shenandoah Valley and northern Piedmont regions. The localities are the counties of Clarke, Fauquier, Frederick, Page, Rappahannock, Shenandoah and Warren and the city of Winchester. Laurel Ridge offers more than 75 associate degree and certificate programs in a wide variety of disciplines. Laurel Ridge also serves the business community by offering workforce preparation programs for employees and employers. Laurel Ridge serves more than 9,000 unduplicated credit students and more than 11,000 individuals in professional development and business and industry courses annually.
Laurel Ridge Community College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC) to award associate degrees. Laurel Ridge Community College also may offer credentials such as certificates and diplomas at approved degree levels. Questions about the accreditation of Laurel Ridge Community College may be directed in writing to the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges at 1866 Southern Lane, Decatur, GA 30033-4097, by calling (404) 679-4500, or by using information available on SACSCOC’s website (www.sacscoc.org).
Laurel Ridge Community College is an equal opportunity institution providing educational and employment opportunities, programs, services, and activities. Laurel Ridge shall promote and maintain equal employment and educational opportunities without regard to race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age (except when age is a bona fide occupational qualification), status as a veteran, national origin, or other non-merit factors. Laurel Ridge also prohibits sexual misconduct including sexual violence or harassment. Inquiries may be directed to the Associate Vice President, Human Resources, [email protected], 173 Skirmisher Lane, Middletown, VA 22645, 540-868-7226.
Laurel Ridge Community College was known as Lord Fairfax Community College until June 2022. For consistency purposes, the college will be referenced as Laurel Ridge going forward.