Advantage Valley Workforce & Education
A Region of Hardworking People and Industry-Aligned Workforce Training
Advantage Valley is driven by a dedicated, dependable workforce and a strong regional focus on workforce development. With a labor shed of 630,000 people, the region gives businesses access to a skilled and loyal talent pool, shaped by generations of experience in hard work and industrial excellence.
Strong Work Ethic and High Talent Retention
For decades, residents of Advantage Valley have built careers in key industries such as coal, energy, and manufacturing, developing a reputation for initiative, reliability, and long-term employer loyalty. Coupled with the area’s low cost of living and exceptional quality of life, this strong work ethic makes it easy for companies to attract and retain top talent across a range of sectors.
Education That Builds a Future-Ready Workforce
In Advantage Valley, education and industry work together to build a workforce that meets today’s demands. Local K-12 school districts collaborate with employers to align classroom instruction with workforce needs. High schools throughout the region place a strong emphasis on in-demand career skills and offer a wide variety of career and technical education (CTE) programs. These include hands-on training in welding, computer systems, production technology, and business, among others. These programs ensure that students graduate with the skills and experience required to succeed in modern workplaces.
Apprenticeship Programs and Workforce Resources
Employers in Advantage Valley also benefit from access to West Virginia’s statewide apprenticeship programs. These initiatives help companies develop high-quality talent, tap into valuable training funds, and implement effective strategies for recruiting, upskilling, and retaining employees. From onboarding new hires to preparing workers for advanced roles, these resources offer practical support for business growth.
Advantage Valley offers the workforce strength, training infrastructure, and community partnerships you need to thrive.
Workforce Training
Marshall University FAA Part 147 Aviation Maintenance Technology (AMT) Program
Located in Huntington (Cabell County) and offered in collaboration with Mountwest Community & Technical College, Marshall University’s Aviation Maintenance Technology Program provides a two-year degree focused on aircraft structures, reciprocating and jet engines, hydraulics, electrical systems and avionics, flight instruments, and other key aviation components. Graduates are eligible to take the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Part 147 exams to become certified Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) technicians. Learn more.
Kanawha Valley FAME Program
The FAME (Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education) Program offers students a unique opportunity to earn a college degree while gaining hands-on experience in advanced manufacturing. This work-study initiative prepares participants to become multi-skilled maintenance technicians equipped for today’s modern manufacturing environments. The program is made possible through partnerships with leading companies such as Nucor Steel West Virginia, Niterra North America, Timet, Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia, Parkline, Armstrong World Industries, Service Wire Company, and ProLift. Learn more.
MAMC’s new Apprenticeship Works Manufacturing National Hub
Through the Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center in Huntington (Cabell County) and with $7M support from the U.S. Department of Labor, the university has launched a nationwide apprenticeship program. This initiative includes the establishment of a National Training Academy in West Virginia and collaboration with industry partners to develop new occupational standards and training aligned with the evolving manufacturing sector. The program aims to bridge the skills gap by providing a clear roadmap, at no cost to employers. Learn more.
MAMC’s Classroom2Careers Pre-Apprenticeship Initiative
The Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center’s statewide pre-apprenticeship program will help more than 2,000 students earn credits toward U.S. Department of Labor-registered apprenticeships, accelerating their pathway into skilled careers. By connecting students with local manufacturing opportunities, this initiative aims to retain young talent in West Virginia and strengthen the state’s workforce. Learn more.
Community and Technical Colleges Supporting Workforce in Advantage Valley
Advantage Valley is home to a strong network of community and technical colleges that deliver employer-driven training and workforce development. These institutions play a critical role in helping businesses grow by offering customized training programs tailored to the needs of today’s industries.
Whether companies are onboarding new employees, adopting new technologies and equipment, or preparing workers for leadership and supervisory roles, local colleges provide the hands-on education and flexible learning solutions needed for success.
One standout initiative is the Learn and Earn Program, which allows students to take technical courses while gaining paid, real-world work experience with local employers. This unique program helps businesses develop talent pipelines while giving students a head start on their careers.
BridgeValley Career and Technical College
Located in South Charleston (Kanawha County), BridgeValley offers postsecondary and high school programs, including Welding, Business and Management, Facilities Management, Computer and Information Technology, Mechatronics, and many others. It’s also home to the Toyota Advanced Manufacturing Technician Work Sponsorship Program which is endorsed and sponsored by the Federation for Advanced Manufacturing Education (FAME). Established in partnership with Toyota, the program gives students the opportunity to earn an associate degree while providing a paid work experience at a local manufacturer. Many participants are hired into full-time roles by their sponsoring companies. Learn more.
Mountwest Community and Technical College
Located in Huntington (Cabell County), Mountwest offers postsecondary and high school programs focused on meeting the needs of today’s employers, among them Machinist/CNC Technology, Welding, Engineering, CAD, Business and Management, Mobile App Development, Drone Technology, and System Networking.
In addition, RCBI empowers manufacturers and makers, moving innovative ideas from concept to market with leading-edge equipment and expertise, while boosting company performance and profitability through skills training and quality implementation initiatives. Learn more.
Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College
Two of the college’s many locations are here in Advantage Valley (Boone and Lincoln Counties). They provide a broad range of workforce programs in skill areas such as Industrial Technology, Industrial Welding, Mechatronics, IT, Agriculture, and Electromechanical Instrumentation Technology. In addition, they provide continuing education in areas such as Supervision and Leadership, Heavy Equipment Operation, Customer Service and Safety. Learn more.
Marshall Advanced Manufacturing Center (former RCBI)
With campuses in Huntington (Cabell County) and South Charleston (Kanawha County), the Institute delivers workforce training in areas such as Additive Manufacturing Technology, Machining, Robotics, and Welding. MAMC empowers manufacturers and makers, moving innovative ideas from concept to market with leading-edge equipment and expertise, while boosting company performance and profitability through skills training and quality implementation initiatives. Learn more.
Universities
Marshall University
Located in Huntington (Cabell County) with satellite campuses throughout the Advantage Valley region, including South Charleston (Kanawha County), Point Pleasant (Mason County), and Teays Valley (Putnam County), Marshall offers undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs in career fields such as Aviation Maintenance; Ecology; Electrical, Mechanical, Civil, Computer Science, and Biomedical Engineering; Occupational Safety and Health; Computer Information Security; Business and Management; and Forensic Science. Learn more.
University of Charleston
This private university offers two-year, four-year, and graduate programs in Arts and Sciences, Business, and Healthcare. It is the fastest growing private university in West Virginia. UCWV’s diverse range of majors and over 40+ degree programs are designed to prepare students for success Its main campus is located in Charleston (Kanawha County) with a campus in Beckley, WV known as UC-Beckley. Learn more.
West Virginia State University
Just outside of Charleston, WVSU was founded as a historically black institution. Today, its educational programs and student base have grown to include programs in sectors such as Chemical Engineering, Computer Science, Business and Management, Biology, and Chemistry. Learn more.
West Virginia University
Located in Morgantown (with two satellite campuses), this public university offers everything from certificates to Doctoral programs in fields such as Agribusiness, Animal and Food Science, Information Systems, Computer Engineering, Business and Management, and several Engineering disciplines. Learn more.
A Creative Approach to Workforce Training in West Virginia
The Toyota 4T Model
The 4T Academy WV3, a partnership between Toyota and local school districts in Mason, Putnam, and Kanawha Counties, combines classroom instruction with hands-on training in advanced manufacturing. Students learn skills in robotics, machining, and engineering, mentored by Toyota professionals. Juniors train for free; seniors are paid to learn. Graduates may qualify for full-time roles at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia.
In West Virginia, the 4T Academy WV3 is active in Mason, Putnam, and Kanawha Counties, where students participate in a curriculum that blends traditional coursework with practical training in a simulated factory environment. The curriculum includes instruction in manufacturing, engineering, computer science, precision machining, industrial automation and robotics, industrial maintenance, environmental sustainability, and core topics like electrical systems, pneumatics, and hydraulics.
Students are mentored by Toyota manufacturing professionals and gain real-world experience through paid, on-site training at Toyota Motor Manufacturing, West Virginia, which produces engines and transmissions. The program is free for juniors, while seniors are paid, starting at $16 per hour, or more depending on the plant location. Upon successful completion, students may be considered for full-time production roles as Production Track Team Members, contingent on job performance and staffing needs.
The 4T Academy not only prepares students for well-paid, fulfilling careers in advanced manufacturing, but also aims to strengthen the local workforce and encourage young talent to remain and grow in the Advantage Valley region of West Virginia.