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Every team at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) has been busy this month with impactful work, including a unique agriculture summit hosted at the IALR Conference Center and a career expo for thousands of middle and high school students. Our Manufacturing Advancement team continues investing in students and companies while our economic development team is working tirelessly to attract and retain businesses in Southern Virginia.
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IALR is here to make a tangible impact and transform the economy of Southern Virginia. Our role in partnering and supporting the region's growth is clearest during fast-paced months like this - when the how of our mission feels so diverse and far-reaching.
Telly Tucker, President, Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR)
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3,600+ Students Attend Career ChoICE Youth Expo West
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3,600+ students from six school divisions participated in this year's Career ChoICE Youth Expo West event, gaining hands-on experience and engaging in meaningful conversations with regional employers and educational providers.
“This event is about creating a tangible connection between students and their potential futures." - Jessie Vernon, Director of Employer Engagement and Experiential Learning, IALR
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The Mind Behind the Iconic IALR Building: Dewberry’s Larry Hasson
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| Celebrate 20 years of the main IALR building with an exclusive interview featuring the building's lead architect, Larry Hasson of Dewberry. Discover the backstory and thought process behind the building's unique design, materials and layout.
"We really wanted to make sure that the function of this building was even better than the form of this building. I think we got
lucky because we did a good job with both." - Larry Hasson, Dewberry
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CEA Summit East Sparks Innovation and Collaboration
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Building on the success of previous years, the third annual Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) Summit East sparked collaboration and innovation among a diverse audience of 230+ attendees including growers, educators, scientists, Extension personnel, suppliers, tech specialists and government leaders.
"This event underscores the importance of partnerships and shared knowledge in achieving the growth and success we envision for CEA.” - Dr. Scott Lowman, Co-Director, CEA Innovation Center; Vice President, Applied Research, IALR
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Grants Allow GO TEC Expansion into Southwest, Southern Virginia
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The Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC®) program is expanding into eight new middle schools across Southern and Southwest Virginia. Thanks to two GO Virginia grants totaling over $900,000, we're installing our hands-on Career Connections Labs, bringing the total to 52 schools in 38 divisions.
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Southern Virginia Regional Housing Summit Returning to IALR
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This full-day event hosted at the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research Conference Center on Oct. 24 will feature presentations on local, state and federal funding
options, a panel showcasing examples of housing projects currently underway and an exhibit hall.
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Economic Development News
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TEChnista LLC to Establish National Training Center in Pittsylvania County
The education consulting company specializing in curriculum development for K-12 programs in defense and advanced manufacturing industries will establish its National Training and Technology Center in Pittsylvania County. The project will create 15 new jobs and support the implementation of a five-year federal contract with the U.S. Department of Defense.
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Shalag U.S., Inc. To Establish Facility in Mecklenburg County
Shalag U.S., Inc., a manufacturer of non-woven fabric for use in manufactured products, will invest $16.6 million to open a new non-woven manufacturing and production facility in Mecklenburg County. The investment will create 52 new jobs.
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The Services that Make ATDM Accessible, Successful and Impactful: A Podcast
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| Students in the Accelerated Training in Defense Manufacturing (ATDM) program receive wrap-around support services such as housing, career preparation and transportation at no cost thanks to federal funding from the U.S. Department of Defense and Navy. The support and career services make the program more impactful, accessible and successful.
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Local Leaders Highlight GO TEC Impact in Panel During GO Virginia State Board Retreat
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During September’s GO Virginia State Board Retreat hosted at IALR, a panel of experts discussed how GO TEC Virginia is introducing over 9,000 middle school students across 52 schools to careers in robotics, welding and more.
The panel included: Dr. Julie Brown (IALR), Linda Green (IALR and Southern Virginia Regional Alliance) and Dr. Mark Jones (Pittsylvania County Schools).
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Computer Classes
IALR is offering several introductory
computer classes over the next few months. In a three-hour class, you can learn the basics of helpful computer programs like Microsoft Excel and Canva. Those who are interested can browse and register for all upcoming computer workshops.
Tours of IALR
Test out virtual reality welding simulators. See 3D printers in action. Check out controlled environment agriculture (CEA) technology. Several free tours of the IALR campus are scheduled for October, November and December.
Southern Virginia Housing Summit
Increasing available housing supply is a major focus of localities and economic developers, and the Southern Virginia Regional Housing Summit on Oct. 24 helps connect developers, contractors, financial institutions, architects and community advocates to highlight opportunities and breakthroughs in residential housing.
Regional Innovation Summit for Entrepreneurs
The RISE Regional Innovation Summit for Entrepreneurs will feature valuable networking and learning opportunities for entrepreneurs, business owners and innovators in Southern Virginia. This full-day event is coming to IALR on Oct. 19.
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| CMA Employee Participates in Leadership Program
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Andrew Williams, Process Engineer at IALR’s Center for Manufacturing Advancement (CMA), is participating in a leadership training series focused on equipping manufacturing professionals with the skills to drive growth and innovation.
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- CMA Technology Manager Jeremiah Williams presented tooling and machining strategies for Wire Arc Additive Manufactured (WAAM) parts and components at the International Manufacturing Technology Show (IMTS) in Chicago. IALR is conducting testing on optimized strategies for machining WAAM material with FasTech LLC and Kyocera SGS Precision Tools.
- Twelve members of the Dan River Year AmeriCorps program started their term for the 2024-25 year, marking
the program's 10th year.
- The Wonder Community of Lifelong Learning partnered with Megabytes Café at IALR to host another sold-out cooking class. Participants practiced making pasta, learned how to roast zucchini, created tasty garlic knots, developed
cannolis, and walked away with new recipes in their cookbooks.
- Members of the Southern Piedmont Technology Council participated in a tour of Circ - a textile-to-textile recycling material technology company and long-time partner of IALR.
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