Work Talk

In this episode, you'll hear how a powerful reentry initiative is transforming lives by preparing incarcerated individuals for meaningful employment before their release. Discover how collaborative efforts across regional, state, and federal partners are breaking down barriers to reintegration and creating real opportunities for second chance employment. You'll learn how job training, personal development, and support services work together to reduce recidivism, strengthen families, and boost community well-being. Most importantly, you'll hear firsthand from individuals who are building new futures—proving that the power of work can truly change lives.

In this episode, we revisit the powerful impact of the YouthBuild program, a community-based initiative designed to help young adults ages 16 to 24 earn their high school diploma or GED, gain job training, and develop leadership skills. Listeners will learn how YouthBuild empowers youth to build strong foundations for their futures through education, work-based learning, and essential supportive services. We also explore the program's growth and its successful partnerships with local organizations, highlighting real-life stories of transformation and how these collaborations are making a lasting difference in the lives of young people.

Discover the comprehensive journey of creating a three-year strategic plan for regional workforce development. This episode explores how input from diverse stakeholders shapes a document that serves as both a federal requirement and an actionable roadmap. Learn about key strategic priorities including diversifying funding sources, developing talent solutions through industry partnerships, serving at-risk populations, and expanding work-based learning opportunities. 

This episode explores the critical need for healthcare workers in Southwest Virginia and efforts to address workforce shortages in the region. You'll hear about a public health professionals program aimed at recruiting and training individuals for various healthcare roles beyond physicians, including nurses, community health workers, peer recovery specialists, and more. The discussion covers the challenges faced by rural healthcare systems and the importance of providing comprehensive support, including job training, stipends, and assistance with basic needs, to help people transition into healthcare careers. 

In this episode we welcome Lindsey Gleason, Assistant Director of the Community Foundation of the New River Valley, to discuss the upcoming GiveLocalNRV initiative. Lindsey explains how the Community Foundation collaborates with donors to support more than 150 local organizations through grants and scholarships, and how GiveLocalNRV offers an online platform for nonprofits to raise funds and connect with the community. You'll also hear about the newly established New River Mount Rogers Workforce Development Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on providing comprehensive support to individuals facing obstacles to employment and training. 

In this episode, you'll learn about a grant project aimed at bridging the skilled trades gap in the region. You'll also hear about the board's initiatives to develop sector partnerships and strategies in construction, healthcare, and manufacturing industries. The episode explores how these partnerships will help identify industry needs, develop targeted training programs, and support disadvantaged populations in accessing skilled employment opportunities. Tune in to discover how this impactful project aims to strengthen the region's workforce and benefit both businesses and job seekers alike.

The New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Board is transforming lives through impactful programs and partnerships. In this episode, you'll hear uplifting stories of second chances from former inmates gaining employment after reentering society, a woman rebuilding her life in recovery from substance abuse, nursing students graduating with support through workforce grants, and a manufacturing business benefiting from workforce training initiatives. These stories of reentry, recovery and accessing opportunity demonstrate the power of community support and resilience on the journey of positive change. Listen in for inspirational tales of lives turned around through workforce development.

This podcast features a discussion with the executive directors of two regional economic development organizations about their efforts to promote business growth, job creation, and talent development across southwest Virginia. They provide updates on the priorities and activities of their organizations, including workforce pipeline development, talent retention programs, business attraction and expansion efforts, and strategic marketing of the region. Discover the importance of collaboration between economic development groups to support the economic vitality of local communities.

In this episode, you'll learn about the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and some of its programs serving adults, dislocated workers, and youth. Get ready to discover how WIOA, a reauthorization of the 2014 Workforce Investment Act, is designed to strengthen our nation's public workforce system and empower adults, youth, and those facing employment barriers, to access high-quality careers.  

In this episode, you'll hear an update about grants awarded to the New River/Mt. Rogers Workforce Development Board. Join us as we delve into the various programs and the efforts underway to build a skilled and confident labor force, especially for those individuals who face barriers to employment. You'll also hear about how work-based learning opportunities and certifications in healthcare, manufacturing, and construction are helping transform lives, and three new grants awarded from the Commonwealth of Virginia.         

In this episode, you'll hear about an initiative that provides rural labor market and employee training. Discover the range of topics covered in the workshops and trainings and the potential outcomes for participating businesses. Discover how the SHOW workshop  provides employees with tools that can be used to improve their functionality and productivity at work.

This episode was recorded live at the 2023 NAWB Forum as Marty Holliday shares her reflections on some of the things she learned while attending the Forum and also talks about her presentation on the return on investment of workforce development services for businesses. 

Access to quality childcare is an important part of developing a talent pipeline and meeting workforce needs. In this episode, you'll hear about the efforts underway to increase the operational capacity and quality of childcare providers and to add 100 early childhood teachers to the region. 

In this episode, you'll hear from Marty Holliday, Executive Director of the New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Area, and Deputy Director Jenny Bolte, as they provide an overview of some of the new regional funding for 2023 and the innovative services that the funding will provide. 

In this episode, the conversation continues about how the regional workforce system is helping to meet recruitment and retention needs. You'll hear from 2 employers, one from the New River Valley Regional Jail, and the other from Parkdale Mills, as they discuss available jobs and careers in their organizations. They also share their recruitment and retention strategies, as well as the benefits that they offer their employees. 

As the worker shortage persists in the region, this episode continues the conversation about the initiatives and strategies underway to help businesses with their recruitment and retention needs. Discover the importance of vetting candidates and assessing fair and equitable compensation. You'll also hear about how analyzing exit data can help companies improve their business practices and culture. 

In this episode, you'll hear about the production technician career pathway, funded by a YouthBuild grant. Discover details about the development of the production technician program and hear from a YouthBuild participant about why he chose this program and the benefits he has received so far from participating. 

In this episode, you'll hear from area employers as they reveal their strategies for recruiting and retaining talent. Discover career opportunities in manufacturing and healthcare and innovative recruitment and retention practices. 

In this episode, you'll hear details about the Youth Career Exploration Camp, which provides youth with an opportunity to explore high-wage, high-demand careers in the region. You'll also hear directly from participants about what they have enjoyed most about the program. 

This special episode was recorded live at the 2022 NAWB Forum as Marty Holliday, Executive Director at New River/Mount Rogers Workforce Development Area, shares her thoughts about the future of workforce development and reveals her takeaways from speaking with other workforce leaders from around the country. 

In this episode, you'll hear about the efforts underway to support second chance employment. Even in the best of times, it is difficult for individuals with criminal records to access employment, and yet employment is a crucial part of helping people in recovery and justice-involved individuals to rebuild their lives. You'll also hear about why employers should tap into this valuable and often untapped labor pool. 

In this episode the conversation continues about the POWER Initiative (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) and particularly peer recovery specialists. Discover the criteria for becoming a peer recovery specialist as well as the application and training process.

In this episode, you'll hear about the efforts that are underway in the region to attract and retain talent in the skilled trades. Phil Callicott , Founder of the The Trades Training Initiative, discusses the vision that his organization has for developing in the construction industry and how the Trades Training Initiative is bringing together local businesses, nonprofits, and workers to address critical skills gaps. 

In this episode, you'll hear about the STRONG Accountable Care Community (STRONG ACC). Discover the history of the organization, and how the STRONG ACC is helping to break down barriers, improve inter-agency coordination of services, better address social determinants of health, and improve health and wellbeing for individuals, families, and communities.

This episode takes a deeper dive into The Appalachian Regional Commission's POWER program, particularly those elements that support recovery for individuals and families impacted by substance abuse. Discover the efforts being made to create a recovery ecosystem, and the importance of combining the efforts of multiple organizations. 

In June of 2021, the US Department of Labor announced the award of 89 million dollars in grants in 31 states and Puerto Rico to help youth ages 16 to 24, who are neither enrolled in school nor participating in the labor market. YouthBuild grants support a pre-apprenticeship model to help these youth learn valuable occupational skills.  In this episode, you'll hear from 2 organizations in Virginia that received YouthBuild grant funding, Goodwill Industries of the Valleys and the New River/Mount Rogers      Workforce Development Area Consortium Board. Discover how the YouthBuild grant funds will be implements and each organization's vision for the project.   

In this episode, you'll hear from 2 regional economic development leaders about how they work with the Virginia Economic Development and the efforts that are underway to support and grow targeted industries. Discover the importance of placemaking and infrastructure improvements in attracting and retaining businesses and talent to the region. 

In this episode, you'll learn about Strengthening Our System, Inc. (SOS) and the services that they provide for individuals with disabilities and individuals with mental health concerns. Discover the history of the organization, the job opportunities that are available, and the necessary requirements to get started in this field. 

In this episode, you'll discover the story of Blue Ridge Designs, a Carroll County-based screen-printed apparel manufacturer. Discover the job opportunities available with Blue Ridge Designs, and the application and hiring process. 

In this episode, you'll hear from a guest panel about the Virginia Road to Success Program (RSVP) which focuses on helping individuals increase self-sufficiency through stable continuous employment. Discover the key partnerships that help the RSVP program to assist participants in obtaining employment that leads to self-sufficiency along an identified career pathway.       

Stephen Moret, President and CEO of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, joins the program to discuss the work that his organization is doing to advance economic growth and economic development across the Commonwealth of Virginia. He also discusses the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on Virginia's economy and the efforts that are underway to help the state fully recover. 

In this episode, you'll learn about the POWER (Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization) Initiative. The initiative targets federal resources to help communities and regions that have been affected by job losses in coal mining, coal power plant operations, and coal-related supply chain industries due to the changing economics of America’s energy production. Discover how the POWER Initiative supports efforts to create a more vibrant economic future for coal-impacted communities by cultivating economic diversity, enhancing job training and re-employment opportunities, creating jobs in existing or new industries, and attracting new sources of investment.

In this episode, you'll hear about youth programming available in the region. Discover eligibility requirements, services offered, and how to connect youth to educational and training opportunities to achieve their overall employment goals. 

This community awareness podcast provides an update on available job seeker services and programs. Discover how to connect with employers during the COVID-19 pandemic, how to identify training opportunities and wraparound services, and more.  

Rick Sizemore, Media Specialist at the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Services, and former Director of the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center, joins the program to discuss the mission and impact of the VR Workforce Studio Podcast. Rick reveals what it's like to host and produce the podcast, and the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had both on the delivery of services to persons with disabilities, as well as messaging. 

Jenny Bolte, Deputy Director of the New River Mt. Rogers Workforce Development Board, returns to the program to provide an update about the Pathways to the American Dream grant, as well as 2 new projects that are funded through the Virginia community college system. Discover how to get training for an in-demand healthcare career, and eligibility requirements.

In this episode, you'll hear updates about Virginia's unemployment insurance system, and changes that have occurred since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. You'll hear about changes both from a regional and state perspective. 

In this episode, you'll learn about the Ticket to Work Program, a free and voluntary program offered by Social Security that can help people age 18 through 64 who receive Social Security disability benefits and who are interested in returning to work or working for the first time. You'll also hear from a Ticket to Work participant about the impact that this program had on her life. 

In this episode, you'll learn about the Virginia Ready Initiative, a newly established nonprofit organization formed in response to the economic hardships created by the COVID-19 pandemic. Discover how VA Ready and its partners provide incentives for motivated, out-of-work Virginians to reskill for in-demand jobs in high-growth sectors.

In part 2 of this 2-part community awareness podcast, you'll hear about how the New River Mt. Roger Workforce Development Board has innovated and continued to serve business needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In part 1 of this 2-part community awareness podcast, you'll hear about how the New River Mt. Roger Workforce Development Board has innovated and continued to serve business needs during the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In this episode, you'll learn about the online resource guidebook created by the New River Valley Task Force Recovery Team. Discover how to access the guidebook, why it was created and what businesses need to consider as they reopen. 

In this community awareness podcast, designed to provide crucial information during the COVID-19 pandemic, you'll hear about an upcoming virtual job fair. Discover some of the employers who are participating and the range of jobs that are available. 

In this community awareness podcast, designed to bring you crucial information during the COVID-19 pandemic, you'll discover how you can prepare for job opportunities while staying at home. 

As many employees transition from working in an office to working remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this episode explores tips for successfully adjusting to working from home. Discover how to create a work/life balance, what to consider when choosing a workspace, and how to maintain a sense of connection when working virtually. 

In this community awareness podcast dedicated to providing crucial information during the COVID-19 pandemic, you'll learn about virtual job seeker workshops and how to access them. 

This episode features another episode with 1901 Group and their recent expansion in Virginia. Discover how 1901 Group is recruiting candidates and preparing the talent pipeline, and why the IT sector will be even more crucial then ever as more people work virtually. 

In this special community awareness podcast designed to provide crucial information during the COVID-19 pandemic, you'll learn about the Small Business Administration's Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. Discover eligibility requirements, loan details and how to apply. 

In this special community awareness podcast, you'll discover how to file unemployment insurance when offices are closed. You'll learn how to determine if you are eligible for unemployment insurance, what's next, and the changes that have been made due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In this episode, you'll learn about the Wytheville Community College, and the various programs that are available to help students start a meaningful career in a high demand occupation. Discover the options available for students, including transfer and concurrent enrollment opportunities. 

This episode features an interview with Lennie Gail Mitcham, Executive Director of SVAM, The Southwest Virginia Alliance for Manufacturing. You'll discover how SVAM supports and strengthens manufacturers in the region, and hear industry success stories.