With artificial intelligence (AI) job openings in the U.S. projected to grow into the hundreds of thousands over the next decade — and industries from healthcare to advanced manufacturing urgently seeking skilled workers — West Virginia’s community and technical colleges are stepping up to meet the demand. Partnering with major employers such as IBM and Northrop Grumman, the colleges are launching new training programs that give students the skills to succeed in the state’s fastest-growing fields.
At its most recent meetings in April and August, the West Virginia Council for Community and Technical College Education approved Technical Program Development Grant awards totaling more than $1.04 million for five programs that directly address employer needs. Among them is Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College’s new Applied Artificial Intelligence certificate program, which received $169,440 in funding. Developed with strong backing from IBM and Northrop Grumman, the fully online program will train students in machine learning, data analysis, and AI applications — skills increasingly essential in healthcare, manufacturing, finance, and defense sectors. With these global companies helping to shape curriculum, graduates will leave with the qualifications needed to step directly into high-tech careers.
“These are not just training programs — they’re direct pipelines to the jobs of tomorrow,” said Tiffany Ellis Williams, Director of Workforce and Economic Development. “When industry leaders sit down with our colleges to design programs, our students gain exactly the skills employers need, and our communities gain a stronger, more resilient workforce.”
While the momentum in AI training is a milestone for the state, the Technical Program Development Grant awards also funded programs in equally vital sectors such as healthcare, hospitality, emergency services, and skilled building maintenance. BridgeValley Community and Technical College received $215,325 to establish a fully accredited Respiratory Therapy associate degree to address a shortage of respiratory care professionals following the closure of a regional training program. Developed in partnership with Montgomery General Hospital, WVU Medicine–Thomas Hospitals, and Select Specialty Hospital, the program will give students access to industry-standard equipment and prepare them for national certification, ensuring a steady pipeline of qualified therapists into a field where demand is growing rapidly.
In Southern West Virginia, tourism remains a key economic driver, and Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College is meeting that demand with a $219,580 grant for a new Hospitality and Tourism Management associate degree. Working with the Hatfield and McCoy Convention and Visitors Bureau, the program will blend business fundamentals with specialized training in hotel and restaurant management, event planning, and travel services—helping graduates step into leadership roles in one of the state’s fastest-growing sectors.
Emergency medical care is another urgent need, and West Virginia University at Parkersburg will use its $220,000 award to launch an Emergency Medical Services associate degree focused on advanced paramedic training in partnership with WVU Medicine. The program will supply highly trained first responders to communities that depend on rapid, skilled emergency care.
Meanwhile, Blue Ridge Community and Technical College is addressing a shortage of workers skilled in modern building systems with its $220,000 grant for a Building Systems Technicians certificate program. Developed with the Morgan County School Board, Morgan County Economic Development, Paw Paw High School, Hollywood Casino, and the Economic Development Authority of Berkeley County, the program will prepare students to work on HVAC, networking, and security systems while earning micro-credentials in employment skills to enhance their career readiness.
“This is a powerful example of our colleges being forward-looking and industry-connected,” said Dr. Sarah Armstrong Tucker, West Virginia’s Chancellor of Community and Technical College System. “When we partner directly with leading employers — whether in AI, healthcare, tourism, or skilled trades — we give our students a competitive edge and strengthen West Virginia’s economy for the future.”
By the Numbers
Total Technical Program Development Grant Funding Approved: $1,044,345
Number of Programs Funded: 5
Students Expected to Benefit: 215 over the next three years
Funding Approved – April 2025 Meeting: $659,580
Funding Approved – August 2025 Meeting: $384,765
Programs & Awards:
Applied Artificial Intelligence (Eastern WV CTC) – $169,440 – 45 students / 3 years
Respiratory Therapy (BridgeValley CTC) – $215,325 – 50 students / 3 years
Hospitality and Tourism Management (Southern WV CTC) – $219,580 – 30 students / 3 years
Emergency Medical Services (WVU Parkersburg) – $220,000 – 40 students / 3 years
Building Systems Technicians (Blue Ridge CTC) – $220,000 – 50 students / 2 years
The Technical Program Development Grant Program is administered by the Council for Community and Technical College Education to support new, high-impact training programs in partnership with employers.