The GO Virginia Board meeting on December 10, 2024, focused on two significant applications for the Talent Pathways Planning Initiative, which was established through a special appropriation in 2022. Each region received $250,000 to engage in strategic planning for priority industry sectors, aiming to strengthen workforce pipelines.

The first application discussed was from Region 3, representing Southside Virginia. This initiative, led by the Virginia Southern Virginia Regional Alliance and the South Central Workforce Development Board, will concentrate on advanced manufacturing and controlled environment agriculture. The project aims to define talent pathways in these sectors, develop industry coalitions, and utilize the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's talent supply chain management approach to gather essential data. The project is seeking a local match of $116,000, with an additional $59,000 in leveraged funds, and the board recommended its approval.

The second application came from Region 9, which includes Albemarle County, Greene County, and Charlottesville. This project, known as the BioBridge Talent Pathways Project, will focus on the biotechnology and biomedical sectors. It aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of workforce needs, identify skills gaps, and create an asset map of training providers in the region. The initiative is backed by the Civo Biohub, which will act as the project manager, ensuring that industry leaders are involved in the planning process. The board also recommended this project for approval, emphasizing its potential to develop actionable strategies for workforce development.

During the meeting, Secretary Merrick raised concerns about potential overlaps with existing programs, particularly regarding the Civo Biohub's involvement in other initiatives. The board acknowledged the importance of ensuring that funding is used efficiently and agreed to provide a list of previous and current GO Virginia grants to assess cumulative funding impacts.

Overall, the meeting underscored the board's commitment to enhancing workforce development in Virginia through targeted planning and collaboration with industry stakeholders. The recommended projects are expected to yield valuable insights and strategies to address the evolving needs of key sectors in the state.