West Virginia University has recently secured two Appalachian Regional Commission ARISE grants to help boost local economics and workforce development.
Expansion of Cloud Data Analytics Fellows Program
Partnering with the West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation in North Central West Virginia, WVU is expanding its successful Cloud Data Analytics Fellows program to include offerings at Appalachian State University in North Carolina, and Berea College in Kentucky.
A train-the-trainer model, the Cloud Data Analytics Fellows program readies university professor fellows to incorporate instruction on cloud computing, data analysis, and weather data into their classrooms. The grant includes more than $1.4 million in ARC funding. The West Virginia High Technology Consortium Foundation and its partners are contributing $917,557 in matching funds. The program will serve 620 students throughout the two-year performance period.
Population Positive: Reducing Economic Distress in Central Appalachia through Remote Work-Ready Residents, Businesses, and Communities
The second ARC grant impacts 94 counties across West Virginia and Kentucky, Shaping Our Appalachian Region (SOAR) will use ARISE funding to create a three-pronged strategic plan to develop a workforce ecosystem centered on remote work, hybrid work, and the digital economy. The plan will create a roadmap for residents, businesses, and communities to secure living-wage hybrid and remote careers without having to leave the region. The grant includes $500,000 in ARC funding, with SOAR and its partners contributing $306,531 in matching funds. Over the one-year performance period, the project will serve 500 workers, 50 communities, and 80 small businesses.