CONGRESSMAN BOUCHER ANNOUNCES $189,000 FEDERAL GRANT FOR SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA HIGHER EDUCATION CENTER

 Federal Funds Will Enhance Business Development Program

            (Washington, D.C.) – U.S. Representative Rick Boucher announced today that, at his urging, the U.S. Department of Education, through its Business and International Education Program, is providing a total of more than $189,000 to the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center to enhance its international business program, which prepares students from Southwest Virginia’s two- and four-year colleges for knowledge economy jobs and helps educate local businesses on technology export opportunities. The federal grant provides $94,781 each year for a period of two years and will benefit students from Emory and Henry College, Virginia Intermont, UVA-Wise, Virginia Highlands Community College, Mountain Empire Community College, Southwest Virginia Community College and Wytheville Community College.

“With the federal funding I am announcing today, the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center will be able to better prepare our region’s students to enter the technology-based jobs of the 21^st century. In addition, local businesses will be able to learn more about international business opportunities,” Boucher said.

            With the benefit of the federal funds, the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center will provide a series of short-term study abroad trips to Germany for students and faculty, who will learn about Germany’s leading technology and clean energy industries.  In addition, the federal funds will finance a series of short-term internship opportunities in Germany for Southwest Virginia students and faculty with German firms and German operations of U.S. firms.

            The federal funds will also enable the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center to offer a series of outreach programs for local businesses in conjunction with the Southwest Virginia Technology Council and the Washington County Department of Economic Development. The programs will provide education for local businesses on technology exports.

            “A well-educated workforce is essential in attracting technology-based jobs to our region. The federal funds I am announcing today will prepare Southwest Virginia’s students for knowledge economy jobs by providing them with a better understanding of the global technology industry," Boucher said.

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