Partnership and progress will be on parade when Virginia Peninsula Community College, alongside city and industry leaders, breaks ground on its newest workforce training facility at 520 21st St. in Newport News.
The 9:30 a.m. ceremony takes place Tuesday, Aug. 12, marking the beginning of construction on a 16,000-square-foot Newport News Trades Center. The new center is designed to prepare more than 400 students each year for in-demand maritime and residential construction careers.
“This new facility is part of VPCC’s continued commitment to expanding training capacity to meet our region’s evolving talent needs and to support national defense readiness,” said Todd Estes, vice president for Workforce Development and Innovation at VPCC.
“We’re proud to be a partner in this effort, and we’re excited to help create a pipeline of skilled tradespersons to support the Navy’s shipbuilding goals and uplift our local construction workforce,” Estes added.
Funded through a partnership between VPCC, the Maritime Industrial Base and the City of Newport News, the training center will offer hands-on programs in welding, marine electrical, structural fitting, coatings, electrical, HVAC, plumbing and facilities maintenance.
The new center is a short distance from Newport News Shipbuilding in a historically underserved neighborhood. Estes said the strategic location is not accidental. The aim is to create significant change and revitalize the community by connecting residents with the training needed for careers.
In 2024, VPCC received a $457,000 Advanced Manufacturing Talent Investment Program grant to equip the facility’s 20-booth welding lab with cutting-edge equipment. Additionally, the College will use FY25 and FY26 Workforce Pipeline funds to outfit labs in the new center, including a realistic multi-trade maritime mock-up that provides true-to-life training environments for students.
Thanking the City of Newport News, industry partners and the Commonwealth, Estes said collaboration and a shared vision made this venture possible and the College looks forward to its continued success.
“This project clearly demonstrates what can be accomplished when partners come together to strengthen their communities. We are all excited about the future of the center and our continued work together,” he said.
Estes said the construction company, WM Jordan, began site work this month and the new facility was designed by RRMM Architects. The $9 million project is slated for completion in January 2026.