Charlottesville EDA to discuss workforce development strategies of new plan

The Charlottesville Economic Development Authority will meet at 4 p.m. in CitySpace. These meetings are not televised or recording so if you want to know what happens, you should attend or hope that a reporter attends. (agenda)

There are four items under new business with the first being a review of the relatively new economic development strategic plan and particularly Goal 3: Pathways for Opportunity Review. 

“It’s essential to connect disadvantaged populations to high performing sectors while meeting these communities where they are,” reads part of the summary of this goal. “Creating pathways in Charlottesville will help to bridge community divides and create a skilled workforce for its innovative sectors, allowing the City and its partners to achieve its development goals.”

Details begin on page 36 of the plan. There are several recommended strategies, which in planning-speak means programs and initiatives that can be justified by existing withing a strategic plan. For Charlottesville, that means continued work on the “Growing Opportunity” programs to help train people and capital investments such as city funding for New Hill’s BEACON kitchen. 

• Educate private-sector leaders about workforce development and talent attraction
• Lead efforts with the private sector to pilot new “earn and learn” opportunities for Charlottesville’s tech sectors: Clean Technology, Information Technology, and Life Sciences
• Develop, in collaboration with workforce partners, a GO Healthcare program.
• Continue the GO Cook program and other culinary supports, and provide linkage to each of the GO programs so that entrepreneurial pathways can be created.
• Partner with Charlottesville City Schools and others to evaluate industry-focused K-14 programming to ensure alignment with the City’s growth sectors.
• Expand the capacity of the GO Hire program, focusing on underserved enterprises.
• Advocate for leadership opportunities for BIPOC and underserved up-and-coming leaders
• Support the priorities outlined in the Charlottesville Comprehensive Plan and the Affordable Housing Plan.

Other items of business include an addendum to a lease at 112 E. Main Street as well as a lease with the Rivanna River Company. The city is now their landlord following the $5.9 million purchase late last year of nearly 24 acres of land known as 0 East High Street. The EDA wants to be in charge of the lease. 

This would be a good time for Council to get an update on leases of city-owned property. Two years ago, there was an attempt to standardize the process by the Office of Community Solutions. I wrote about the initial presentation in May 2022 and followed up with details on the lease with S&P Global for their downtown headquarters, a new lease with the McGuffey Art Center, and a new lease with SOCA for Unity Field as Davis Park.   

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