Wytheville Community College (WCC) celebrated the opening of WCC WEST (Workforce, Education, & Skills Training) center on October 3, 2024, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony co-hosted by the Smyth County Chamber of Commerce.
The facility in Marion, VA, enhances WCC’s capacity to provide much-needed workforce training in high-demand skilled trades in Smyth County and the western portion of the college’s service area. The event featured the attendance of the Virginia Community College System Chancellor Dr. David Doré, who emphasized the importance of expanding workforce training opportunities across the Commonwealth. “I am grateful for the leadership of Dr. Sprinkle and his team, as well as the many partners who collaborated to establish WCC WEST. The opening is a significant milestone to expand the talent pipeline of a skilled workforce in high-demand trades in Smyth County and the western portion of the college’s service region. WCC WEST is an important component to the successful implementation of the VCCS statewide strategic plan,” Doré stated.
Malcolm Brown, WCC Local Board Chair, also attended and has been a key leader in the project. Brown, a Smyth County resident, played an instrumental role in securing support for the new center.
WCC President, Dr. Dean Sprinkle, noted that the Virginia Automotive Dealers Association approached WCC about the need for trained automotive workers. This prompted WCC leaders to explore regional employment demand and potential locations to offer an automotive training program. “You obviously cannot just start an automotive and other skilled trades program in a traditional classroom setting,” said Sprinkle. “These types of programs require unique space.” WCC WEST, located at 1520 N. Main St., Marion, VA, occupies a former automotive dealership, providing a specialized space for hands-on training.
“The building was perfect,” explained Perry Hughes, WCC’s Vice President of Workforce Development and Occupational Programs. “As a former dealership, it was already equipped with automotive lifts, and there were large spaces with high ceilings that could be used for other types of skilled trades programs in the future. Plus, the building is conveniently located just off Interstate 81, making it easily accessible for students.”
Smyth County played a pivotal role in securing the facility. “We are grateful to Smyth County Administrator Shawn Utt, the Smyth County Board of Supervisors, and the Smyth County Economic Development Authority (EDA) for working with WCC,” said Sprinkle. The EDA purchased the building and is leasing it to WCC to help establish WCC WEST. "The project also received financial support in the form of a matching grant of $277,000 from the Virginia Tobacco Region Revitalization Commission (TRRC).
“We are very grateful for the support of the Virginia Tobacco Commission that helped fund needed facility renovations and program supplies,” said Sprinkle. WCC WEST currently offers an automotive training program and a welding program and plans to expand into additional skilled trades. The center is designed to provide hands-on training that meets the growing workforce demands of the region.
In addition to WCC WEST, WCC continues to offer other programs in Marion at The Henderson, located at 203 N. Main St., Marion, VA. For more information about WCC WEST and its programs, contact the center at 276-223-4867.
About Wytheville Community College
Founded in 1963, Wytheville Community College (WCC) is one of the 23 colleges in the Virginia Community College System. WCC provides affordable and accessible higher education to a diverse population across the region, serving Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth (Marion and eastward), and Wythe counties, and the city of Galax. The college offers a wide range of degree and certificate programs, workforce training, continuing education, and FastForward programs that prepare students for in-demand careers. For more information, visit www.wcc.vccs.edu or call (276) 223-4700.
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