
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, March 3, 1992                   TAG: 9203030305
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER SOUTHWEST BUREAU
DATELINE: ABINGDON                                LENGTH: Medium

SKILL CENTER STUDY GETS U.S. FUNDING

The federal government is funding a $50,000 study of placing an advanced-technology skills center on a community college campus in Southwest Virginia, Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, announced.

The Appalachian Regional Commission is funding $40,000 and the Tennessee Valley Authority, which will provide aid based on its experience with such centers in Tennessee and North Carolina, is putting up the rest.

Wytheville Community College President William Snyder met with industry representatives and found interest in such a center.

"Bill approached our office last year to request assistance in obtaining the funding of a feasibility study and in facilitating the discussion of this concept with other community colleges in the 9th District," Boucher said.

The congressman arranged a meeting in December for community college presidents of Wytheville, Mountain Empire in Big Stone Gap, Virginia Highlands in Abingdon, Southwest Virginia near Richlands and New River Valley in Dublin. They backed the study.

The study is to assess the needs of Southwest Virginia industry for advanced-manufacturing techniques; how a center could enhance programs at the five schools; what services it could deliver; whether it should be at a single site or split among the colleges; a cost analysis; and possible funding sources.

Wytheville Community College is seeking an independent contractor to carry out the study. Boucher said he hoped it would be complete before the end of the year. He also said he felt such a center would make the region more attractive to industry.

Such centers are located on community college campuses but also serve public schools in their areas. "They are equipped with the latest manufacturing equipment, computer hardware and software which has applicability for a variety of types of manufacturing," Boucher said.

"The goal of each center is to provide students with relevant job skills employing the advanced-manufacturing technology which is currently used by the industry. Through the use of modern equipment, students receive better training and the industry receives a better-trained employee," he said.

by CNB