RICHMOND—The GO Virginia State Board announced its approval of one new Region 2 project aimed at growing the regional economy.

Region 2 consists of the cities of Covington, Lynchburg, Radford, Roanoke, and Salem, and the counties of Alleghany, Amherst, Appomattox, Bedford, Botetourt, Campbell, Craig, Floyd, Franklin, Giles, Montgomery, Pulaski, and Roanoke.

Board Approved Project:

Region 2 GO TEC Launch in the New River Valley and Roanoke County

Montgomery County Public Schools will lead an effort to expand the proven GO TEC® (Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers) initiative into six school districts in Region 2, located in Montgomery County, City of Radford, Giles County, Pulaski County, and Roanoke County.

The GO TEC Career Connections labs will be established in strategic middle school locations, directly aligning educational pathways with the region's in-demand industries. These labs will serve as hubs for hands-on, industry-relevant learning, engaging students at a pivotal stage in their academic development. Specifically, the labs will be located at Christiansburg Middle School (Montgomery County), Dalton Intermediate School (City of Radford), Hidden Valley Middle School (Roanoke County), Narrows High School (Giles County), Pulaski County Middle School (Pulaski County), and William Byrd Middle School (Roanoke County).

The labs will introduce students to in-demand occupations and more than two dozen careers, effectively strengthening the region's talent pipeline.

“This focused investment will directly impact over 1,100 middle school students annually, exposing them to high-demand, high-wage career opportunities within the region,” said Megan Atkinson, career and technical education (CTE) and business partnerships administrator for Montgomery County Public Schools. “By fostering early career exploration, we anticipate a significant increase in student interest in CTE pathways, leading to a more skilled and readily available workforce.”

The GO Virginia board approved a total of $994,212 in state funds for the project, which is leveraging $518,956 in non-state sources.

"This investment demonstrates our dedication to giving students early exposure to meaningful, in-demand career paths and connecting education directly with the needs of our regional economy. By reaching students in middle school, we are planting the seeds for a more skilled, innovative, and competitive workforce that benefits every community in Region 2," said William E. Amos, chair of the GO Virginia Region 2 council.

GO Virginia is a statewide initiative designed to encourage Virginia’s economic growth through the creation of high-wage jobs. Virginia Tech’s Center for Economic and Community Engagement serves as Region 2’s support organization.

Contact
John Provo
jprovo@vt.edu
540-357-2949