News Article

Bolling touts school's workforce training

Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Staff Reporter
Altavista Journal

Lt. Gov. Bill Bolling was in Altavista Friday to highlight recent Virginia economic development success.

In the last 17 months, Bolling said the state had closed 500 economic development deals and created 65,000 net new jobs.

He said unemployment had dropped to 6.1 percent from 7.6 percent when Gov. Bob McDonnell took office.

But, he said, unemployment was 3.4 percent when the national recession started.

"We've got a lot of work to do to get back to where we want to be," Bolling said.

The lieutenant governor was in town for the grand opening at Virginia Technical Institute, a year-old school that offers training in a variety of trades to help area residents find jobs and advance in the ones they already have.

The school was the longtime vision of Altavista businessman Dale Moore.

The school is enrolling now.

For more information, call 434-369-8200 or email info@virginiatechnicalinstitute.org.

For additional information contact Ibbie Hedrick at 804-225-2487 or ibbie.hedrick@ltgov.virginia.gov.