Cutting the Ribbon
New Learning Center location opens
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Appalachian Regional Commission Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin hugs Charity Daniels, a former Learning Center program graduate, during the Grand Opening celebration for the Randolph County Housing Authority's new Learning Center Wednesday.
ELKINS -- The Randolph County Housing Authority hosted a ribbon cutting and Grand Opening ceremony for its new Learning Center location on the Beverly Five-lane Wednesday afternoon.
Appalachian Regional Commission Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin was the special guest, and was joined by representatives from the offices of Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and Gov. Jim Justice. Randolph County Development Authority director Robbie Morris and City of Elkins Mayor Jerry Marco also spoke at the event.
The new facility, which is home to the RCHS workforce development program, STRIVE WV, is located at the former Fish & Wildlife Center next to Elkins Fordland.
The move from its former location on Third Street in downtown Elkins was necessary due to the Learning Center's continual expansion and growth, officials said.
"Today we acknowledge the Randolph County Housing Authority's next step of continuing work to help its neighbors, and that is the opening of the new Learning Center," said Gayle Manchin. "The planning that went into this center is a perfect example of the importance of collaboration...
"This learning center is a great example of the diversity of programs and activities that people can participate in. Not only young people, but for those people looking to retrain, or take a step up into a higher level job position."
STRIVE WV offers free or low-cost vocational training courses for Healthcare, Woodworking, Heavy Equipment Operation in Forestry and Construction, and Retail and Hospitality careers.
The Randolph County Housing Authority began its first vocational training program in 2019 when it applied for and received the WORC 1 grant, funded through a partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Department of Labor ETA.
With the funding from the WORC 1 grant, RCHA developed its Get Ready for WoodWorking class, which is still operational to this day. The Get Ready for WoodWorking Class is a three-week training course which includes soft-skills training and hands-on vocational training through the West Virginia Wood Technology Center.
"RCHA is not a stranger to workforce development, because we have had a YouthBuild program for over 25 years," said Jennifer Griggs, Randolph County Housing Authority Supportive Services Program director. "What's new is that in 2019 we started developing programming for those who were over 18 years and older.
"We did this to help the local hardwood manufacturers find workers, and to bring college short term workforce classes to Elkins. In small rural communities like Elkins, organizations have to step up when they see things in need. And that's what RCHA did, they stepped up and said we have to find solutions to help our employers find those workers."
Since the development of its first vocational training program, STRIVE WV has expanded to offer nine different workforce training options. Most recently, RCHA was awarded the Rural Workforce Program Grant funded by the Federal Health Resources and Services Administration to expand its Targeted Health Instruction of North Central WV program, which includes certification courses in Clinical Medical Assistant, Billing and Coding Specialist, Electronic Health Records Clerk, Community Health Worker, and Behavioral Health Technician.
"By the end of 2022, we had served over 250 people in our workforce programs," said Griggs. "Our team knew we could do more, and through our employer partners, we learned we needed heavy equipment operators...
"In the fall of 2022 we were awarded three new workforce training grants that would serve all of West Virginia. We then knew that Randolph WORC had not only outgrown the building, but the name as well, and Strive West Virginia was born."
The RCHA was also recently awarded two additional ARC grants, the Inspire grant and the WORC-4 grant, which is in partnership with the Department of Labor ETA.
The Inspire grant will go toward the development and implementation of the Cultivating Recovery Employment and Training Education (CREATE) program. That training program will be for Woodworking and CNC Machinery, or Retail and Hospitality courses, which are specifically designed for individuals in recovery.
The WORC-4 grant was awarded to develop the First Step Heavy Equipment Training Program, which will utilize two CAT Simformotion simulators to train participants.
"Our primary goal has been and will always be to have training and programming that is at low or no cost to participants," said Griggs. "In some cases, we are even able to provide stipends so that these workers who are getting new training are still able to function as much as possible."
Charity Daniels, a former student of the program, shared her story at the event about how her life changed because of the training and support she received with what was then WORC.
"In February of 2019, I was in heavy addiction and was arrested and spent five months incarcerated," she said. "At the time I was homeless and had no contact with family or friends ... Because of my judicial situation and gap in employment, I found it very hard to find a job.
"I finally found a part- time job at Taco Bell and then one day I saw a flier for the Get Ready for WoodWorking program the RCHA was offering. I was one of the first people in the program and not only did I get the vocational skills I need to get a job, but I also gained confidence in myself."
Daniels said because of the training she received with the program, she was able to get a job at AHF Wood Products. That job led to bigger things, as she was hired as a quality inspector at Greenfield Cabinetry. Then last year she accepted a position with STRIVE WV, where she is now a job coach.
For more information about any of the programs STRIVE WV has to offer, call 304-460-9016 or go to www.rchawv.org