Five maritime companies are among seven Virginia employers selected to receive funding for technical training through the state’s Maritime & Nuclear Workforce Accelerator.
Virginia Works announced the awards July 23 following a competitive application process. The program will reimburse employers for up to 80% of eligible training costs, with awards capped at $100,000 per company.
The funding is intended to help employers train existing workers for higher-skilled positions in shipbuilding, ship repair, nuclear energy, and advanced manufacturing. Training may cover welding, machining, electrical systems, coatings, pipefitting, nuclear operations, and other advanced manufacturing technologies.
The maritime recipients span several parts of Virginia’s shipbuilding and repair sector. Colonna’s Shipyard, Norfolk, Va., and Fairlead, Portsmouth, Va., both employ broad teams of skilled trades supporting ship repair, marine maintenance, and systems integration, including machinists, welders, riggers, crane operators, painters, and nondestructive testing personnel.
“Our employees are our greatest asset, and we are thrilled to be a recipient of the Virginia Maritime and Nuclear Workforce Accelerator,” said Dana Abbattista, workforce development manager at Colonna’s Shipyard. “These funds will help us expand training opportunities, enhance workforce capabilities, and continue empowering our team with the skills needed to succeed in a rapidly evolving industry.”
Prism Maritime Inc., Chesapeake, Va., will support training for junior installation technicians, pipefitters, marine electricians, and welders involved in shipboard system installation, maintenance, and repair. Riggins Company, Hampton, Va., employs fitters and welders working in ship repair, fabrication, and marine maintenance.
Wilson Pipe & Fabrication LLC, Norfolk, Va., rounds out the maritime recipients with a workforce that includes welders, fabricators, production managers, quality assurance and nondestructive testing managers, procurement personnel, and administrative staff supporting marine fabrication and shipyard projects.
The two remaining awards went to nuclear-sector employers Day & Zimmermann, Norfolk, Va., and Framatome Inc., Lynchburg, Va.
The accelerator is funded through Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Title I Governor’s Reserve Funds. The awards follow an industry needs assessment conducted with employers and workforce organizations across Virginia.
Partners involved in the assessment included maritime and nuclear employers, the Virginia Manufacturers’ Association, the Virginia Department of Energy, the Hampton Roads Workforce Council, the Central Virginia Workforce Development Board, and the Virginia Community College System.
“Our nation depends on Virginia’s shipyards, nuclear facilities, and advanced manufacturers to keep us safe, secure, and building the infrastructure needs of tomorrow,” Virginia Secretary of Labor Jessica Looman said. “The Maritime & Nuclear Workforce Accelerator helps these critical employers invest in the skilled and trained workforce they need and ensures Virginians have access to good jobs and opportunities for career advancement.”
Virginia Works Commissioner Nicole Overley said the initiative was developed by first asking employers to identify their workforce needs and then providing funding for companies to train and advance their own employees.
“Virginia’s leadership in the maritime and nuclear industries depends on a workforce strategy that is responsive, coordinated, and driven by employer demand,” said Shawn Avery, president and CEO of the Hampton Roads Workforce Council. “The Maritime & Nuclear Workforce Accelerator is an important investment that will help companies develop the highly skilled workforce needed to sustain these critical industries for years to come.”
For Colonna’s Shipyard, the funding will provide another way to invest directly in its workforce, said Billie Cook, the company’s director of human resources.
“What better way to demonstrate our company value of family than investing in the training and development of our talented employees?” Cook said. “The funds from the Maritime and Nuclear Workforce Accelerator grant will help us do just that. We are fortunate to have been approved for this workforce-changing program, and our many thanks go to Virginia Works and its collaborative partners. I cannot wait to explore the expanded training opportunities that the accelerator funds bring to our teams.”
