Work Talk

This episode explores the critical need for healthcare workers in Southwest Virginia and efforts to address workforce shortages in the region. You'll hear about a public health professionals program aimed at recruiting and training individuals for various healthcare roles beyond physicians, including nurses, community health workers, peer recovery specialists, and more. The discussion covers the challenges faced by rural healthcare systems and the importance of providing comprehensive support, including job training, stipends, and assistance with basic needs, to help people transition into healthcare careers.

In this episode we welcome Lindsey Gleason, Assistant Director of the Community Foundation of the New River Valley, to discuss the upcoming GiveLocalNRV initiative. Lindsey explains how the Community Foundation collaborates with donors to support more than 150 local organizations through grants and scholarships, and how GiveLocalNRV offers an online platform for nonprofits to raise funds and connect with the community. You'll also hear about the newly established New River Mount Rogers Workforce Development Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on providing comprehensive support to individuals facing obstacles to employment and training.

In this episode, you'll learn about a grant project aimed at bridging the skilled trades gap in the region. You'll also hear about the board's initiatives to develop sector partnerships and strategies in construction, healthcare, and manufacturing industries. The episode explores how these partnerships will help identify industry needs, develop targeted training programs, and support disadvantaged populations in accessing skilled employment opportunities. Tune in to discover how this impactful project aims to strengthen the region's workforce and benefit both businesses and job seekers alike.

The New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Board is transforming lives through impactful programs and partnerships. In this episode, you'll hear uplifting stories of second chances from former inmates gaining employment after reentering society, a woman rebuilding her life in recovery from substance abuse, nursing students graduating with support through workforce grants, and a manufacturing business benefiting from workforce training initiatives. These stories of reentry, recovery and accessing opportunity demonstrate the power of community support and resilience on the journey of positive change. Listen in for inspirational tales of lives turned around through workforce development.

This podcast features a discussion with the executive directors of two regional economic development organizations about their efforts to promote business growth, job creation, and talent development across southwest Virginia. They provide updates on the priorities and activities of their organizations, including workforce pipeline development, talent retention programs, business attraction and expansion efforts, and strategic marketing of the region. Discover the importance of collaboration between economic development groups to support the economic vitality of local communities.