Targeted Assistance for Employers is sponsored by Virginia Commonwealth's Center for Workforce and Profession Innovation Piedmont. Provides targeted assistance to employers building workforce pipelines for Virginia's maritime, nuclear energy, and related manufacturing sectors, supporting shipbuilding workforce development.

Targeted Assistance for Employers - Virginia Career Works Piedmont Region Targeted Assistance for Employers Stephanie McNamara 2026-02-20T16:31:03-05:00 February 20th, 2026 | Building the workforce for Virginia’s maritime, nuclear energy, and related manufacturing sectors. Download the interest form by clicking here. Access funds to train your employees.

Virginia Career Works – Piedmont Region is sharing a critical statewide opportunity for employers in the maritime, nuclear, energy, and advanced manufacturing sectors, as well as the broader supply chain that supports them.

Our region may not host shipyards or maritime fabrication sites directly, but the Piedmont Region of Virginia plays a critical role in the Commonwealth’s “related manufacturing sectors”, including: Nuclear research, engineering, and defense manufacturing Energy‑sector manufacturing and service partners Advanced manufacturing firms that produce components, materials, and equipment used by maritime, nuclear, defense, and energy systems Workforce‑aligned suppliers, subcontractors, and technical training partners that contribute to Virginia’s industrial base Because the new Virginia Maritime & Nuclear Workforce Accelerator explicitly includes related manufacturing sectors , employers in our region may qualify for training reimbursement and participation in the statewide needs assessment.

VCWP encourages manufacturers to review the opportunity and determine their eligibility. The Accelerator provides performance-based reimbursement of up to 80% of approved training costs , with a maximum of $100,000 per employer .

Eligible training may include: Short‑term industry credentials Customized or modular training Registered Apprenticeships Employer‑led on‑the‑job training programs Training reimbursement is tied to successful completion and six‑month job retention. No commitment: The first phase is a statewide needs assessment. This helps Virginia Works identify workforce priorities.

Employers determine eligibility later (after needs assessment). Fill Out the Interest Form Frequently Asked Questions: A statewide workforce initiative launched by Virginia Works to strengthen critical maritime, nuclear, and related manufacturing talent pipelines across the Commonwealth. Focused on employer‑led training solutions shaped by real industry needs.

Employers can receive performance‑based reimbursement for employee training (up to 80% of approved training costs; up to $100,000 per employer) Supports short-term credentials, customized training, and on‑the‑job training.

Employers are needed to help shape the statewide needs assessment, ensuring training solutions match real industry workforce challenge Nuclear energy sector employers Related manufacturing sectors, including: Industrial fabrication & machining Packaging, components, and technical equipment manufacturers Click here to see Virginia Works’ SAMPLE of Relevant Maritime, Nuclear, and Aligned Manufacturing Roles [pdf].

This is not an exhaustive list. You May Qualify Even If You Are Not a Maritime or Nuclear Employer Virginia Works structured this as a supply‑chain workforce initiative that begins with a statewide needs assessment because: Maritime and nuclear supply chains depend heavily on component, materials, and process manufacturers. Datacenters are increasing regional demand for nuclear and manufacturing talent.

Many companies supply indirect but essential parts (filters, housings, electronics, machined parts, composites). If you answer YES to any of these, you may qualify: ⬜ We manufacture components, materials, or equipment used by other industrial companies. ⬜ We support energy, defense, advanced manufacturing, or research-driven industries.

⬜ Our workforce includes machinists, technicians, assemblers, engineers, or QA roles. ⬜ We produce parts that could be used in maritime, energy, or nuclear-related systems. ⬜ We are interested in training funding to skill-up new or existing workers.

Does Your Company Make Any of the Following? You Likely Qualify.

Plastics / polymer products Industrial tubing, conduit, filters, housings Precision instruments or devices (QA, measurement, analytical) Energy & Power System Support Wiring, sensors, electronics Control systems, engineered parts Industrial batteries or energy storage solutions Defense, Aerospace, or Research Support Products used by defense contractors Advanced composites, honeycomb structures, or specialty materials Navigation, maritime electronics, or ship‑related tech Packaging & Industrial Supply Industrial containers, sealing products, protective materials Food, Beverage, and Other Manufacturing If your equipment, machinery, process controls, or maintenance positions require industrial‑grade skills, you may still qualify because workforce needs align with manufacturing skill clusters.

Why does this matter for the Piedmont Region? Central Virginia is home to a strong advanced manufacturing ecosystem , including defense contractors, energy-sector suppliers, industrial maintenance firms, nuclear research institutions, and firms supporting electronics, machining, robotics, transportation, and technical fabrication.

As the demand for nuclear energy expands and as manufacturing supply chains continue to shift, our region stands to benefit from early participation in this statewide Accelerator.

This opportunity allows local employers to: Receive significant reimbursement for upskilling Influence statewide training strategy Prepare for emerging nuclear and energy-sector workforce needs Strengthen long-term competitiveness What Employers Need to Do Now: Step 1: Complete the Employer Interest Form No commitment: The first phase is a statewide needs assessment. This helps Virginia Works identify workforce priorities.

Employers determine eligibility later (after needs assessment). Step 2: Share Workforce Challenges Identify specific training needs, skill gaps, or workforce shortages within your company. Step 3: Prepare to Apply for Training Reimbursement Funding will support employer‑led solutions once the needs assessment phase is complete.

If you have questions, please contact: Constance Green, MBA, CWDP Director, Title I Policy & Ecosystem Engagement at Virginia Works Constance. Green@VirginiaWorks.

gov Part of a statewide partnership involving: Hampton Roads Workforce Council Central Virginia Workforce Development Board Virginia Manufacturers Association Virginia Department of Energy Virginia Community College System Facebook X LinkedIn Email Building Tomorrow’s Healthcare Workforce: Joel’s Journey in Culpeper Building Tomorrow’s Healthcare Workforce: Joel’s Journey in Culpeper Virginia’s Talent Solutions Guide: Free Employer Tools for Workforce Success Virginia’s Talent Solutions Guide: Free Employer Tools for Workforce Success