The Randolph County Housing Authority created a program to offer job training for those looking to enter the workforce, at right around the time the coronavirus pandemic hit in the spring of 2020.
Officials said Strive WV, formerly Randolph WORC, has grown so much since its inception that a new location was needed for its Learning Center, which until a short time ago was located on Third Street in downtown Elkins.
The Learning Center has recently moved to a bigger and better facility to best suit its clientele’s needs, located at the former Fish & Wildlife Center on the Beverly Five Lane next to Elkins Fordland.
A ribbon cutting and grand opening ceremony at the new location is set for Wednesday, April 12 at 2:30 p.m.
“We outgrew our old location because of the grants that we received in the fall of 2022,” Jennifer Griggs, Randolph County Housing Authority Supportive Services Program director, told The Inter-Mountain.
“We now have heavy equipment simulators for construction and forestry that are two very large pieces of equipment. The new location has all that we need to be doing all of our training programs, like our new heavy equipment operations, and retail and hospitality, which is for people in recovery.”
Griggs said she expects the Heavy Equipment Operation classes at the Learning Center to be popular among area residents.
“The new heavy equipment classes are great for people who are unemployed or may have been laid off from a job,” Griggs said. “It’s also good for those who may have a job and are looking for something better.
“We have both a five-week program that is focused on those who are just leaving high school, and a 10-week program for a little more intense training on our two pieces of equipment.”
Area residents are invited to come out and learn about all the classes the Learning Center has to offer during its grand opening. Special guests, including Gayle Manchin, federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission, are scheduled to be on hand.
“The grand opening is an opportunity for people to come and see the training programs and services that we offer,” Griggs said. “They can come out and learn how to take the next, or first step in their employment journey.”
Those attending the celebration can also learn about the many other classes the center offers, like those in Health Care and Wood Technology. For more information, contact the center at 304-460-9016.