Sweet Briar College representatives asked the Amherst County Board of Supervisors to include a $10,000 match commitment in the FY27 budget as part of a regional Go Virginia grant application. Jonathan (John) Bender, director of Sweet Briar’s engineering program, said the grant would help expand instruction in power generation and place additional graduates in local careers, particularly in nuclear power and associated industries.

Peter Bridal and Dr. Bender explained the grant structure: Sweet Briar and partners would provide the required non-state match (20%), Go Virginia would invest regionally, and the program aims to deliver a pipeline of engineering graduates who remain in the region. "We are requesting $10,000 for fiscal year 2027," Bender told the board.

Board members discussed timing and the optics of asking for local funding when many residents are concerned about reassessment increases. Several supervisors supported the investment as a long-term economic-development and workforce strategy. The board directed the county administrator to add $10,000 to the FY27 budget to support the Sweet Briar Go Virginia proposal.

Next steps: staff will add the match to the proposed FY27 budget and Sweet Briar will proceed with its Go Virginia application. The board reiterated that the funding will be subject to final budget adoption.