Southern Virginia Higher Education Center Fuels Local Economy by Filling Critical IT Skills Gaps
The Southern Virginia Higher Education Center (SVHEC) is a state agency located in South Boston, Virginia. The SVHEC serves approximately 13 counties including several in North Carolina. A combination of ongoing and forward-thinking efforts by regional leaders in government, higher education and private sector businesses have positioned the SVHEC region to develop IT and other formidable career pathways for its populations.
CHALLENGES The history of Southern Virginia’s economy is similar to many regions in the United States, with periods of prosperity and relative decline. For many years Southern Virginia’s tobacco and textile industries fueled the twin economic engines driving the entire state. However, beginning in the 1970s, several factors challenged the economic vitality of Southern Virginia including the offshoring of textile manufacturing jobs, the declining consumer demand for tobacco products and financial shocks like the Great Recession of 2008. The region’s leaders were challenged to create opportunities for sustainable career pathways for the newly unemployed. In the 1980s, various technology companies found Southern Virginia an attractive location to establish lower-cost operations. Initially these companies hired and relocated their IT talent from larger cities. Eventually, these recruits would accept positions closer to home, creating a vacuum of long-term, dedicated IT talent. These technology companies faced the challenges of a revolving door of IT talent and thus, higher than acceptable employee turnover costs.
“We wanted a strong certification that was industry recognized and CompTIA fit the bill.”
– Kelly Shotwell IT Academy Director
SOLUTIONS In 1986, South Boston and Halifax community leaders formed a unique partnership with degree-granting institutions to make programs available in South Boston at what would become the SVHEC. The SVHEC partners provided access to in-demand certificates and degrees, in healthcare, education, human services, business, and criminal justice. Over the past six years, the SVHEC has expanded to deliver short-term, technical job training in high demand occupations including welding, mechatronics, HVAC, and IT.
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