Making Sense of the Data

The recent Southern Virginia Living Wage and Job Availability Study reveals unique takeaways like salary trends across industries and data showing which sectors are growing.

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research’s (IALR) experts are digging even deeper into the data, exploring what it means and how it should guide future decisions for regional workforce and economic development efforts. Jessie Vernon recaps how the landscape has changed since 2017, Angela Brown analyzes how the region is connecting students to careers, Dr. Melanie Lewis delves into strengthening the healthcare workforce, and Jason Wells shares insight on the manufacturing sector.

Family Literacy Night Sparks Joy and Curiosity

120 students and their families attended the free event organized by IALR and its Dan River Year AmeriCorps members and partners. Participants engaged with 39 activity stations and received free books.

IALR Awarded $2 Million Investment for Work-Based and Service Learning

The three-year investment from the Danville Regional Foundation will strengthen and broaden service and work-based learning opportunities for high school students, college students and emerging workers.

Helping Manufacturers Operationalize Technology

IALR’s Center for Manufacturing Advancement (CMA) helps manufacturers effectively integrate and deploy existing advanced technologies and optimize processes.

IALR Summer Internships

IALR offers eight-week internships for recent high school graduates, college students and recent college graduates. Opportunities include machine learning and AI, biotechnology, marketing, generative manufacturing engineering design and more.

Apply

From IALR Leaders

“Stronger community health outcomes support a stronger healthcare workforce and vice versa. The healthcare worker shortage is too significant for any single organization to solve alone. But together, we can build a multi‑level pipeline that strengthens care delivery, supports families and contributes to a more resilient regional economy.”

- Melanie Lewis, Ph.D, Vice President, Advanced Learning, IALR

Strengthening Healthcare Workforce

Events and Opportunities

IALR is hiring for a range of unique positions, including NAVSEA Additive Manufacturing Instructor, NAVSEA Additive Manufacturing Technician and Defense Manufacturing Training Coordinator.
Employers across Virginia have support from the new InternshipsVA program from Virginia Economic Development Partnership. InternshipsVA provides financial support, expert guidance, practical training, recruitment and more.
IALR offers reliable and affordable contract research and third-party testing services in areas like chemistry, biotechnology, advanced imaging and advanced materials.
The community is invited to hear from leaders of Caesars Virginia, Hitachi Energy and IALR on April 9 at “Voices of a Rising Region: How Strategic PR Shapes Southern Virginia’s Future .” Pre-registration is required.

Watch Updates from IALR

IALR Updates: We're busy collaborating, supporting, and driving impact.

In Other News

Avio USA Inc. announced plans for a $500 million rocket motor manufacturing facility at the Southern Virginia Multimodal Park in Hurt, creating over 1,000 new jobs in the process.
44 students graduated from the CNC Machining and Metrology tracks of the ATDM program on Feb. 13. 👉 Read
The entire IALR team participated in a day of professional development and connections on March 3. 👉 Read
With scholarships covering housing and tuition, the ATDM student experience is truly unique. 🎧 Listen
18 students completed the non-destructive testing path of ATDM on Feb. 27. 👉 Read
IALR and Virginia Tech staff collaboratively published two new Virginia Cooperative Extension publications: What is Controlled Environment Agriculture? and Introduction to Microgreen Production in Indoor Vertical Farms and Greenhouses.
IALR’s Marketing and Communications department won five gold awards from the Blue Ridge PRSA. 👉 Read

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