Fairmont State University and Regional Partners Receive Nearly $2 Million from Appalachian Regional Commission’s POWER Initiative

Fairmont State University, together with partner organizations, has been awarded $1,990,600 from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to initiate a Regional Career Services and Workforce Development Collaborative. This initiative will improve the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce pipeline in North Central West Virginia.

The project, Building Connections to Grow Capacity: Breaking Down Regional Barriers in the STEM Workforce Pipeline, is part of a $68.2 million award package and will support coal-impacted communities in West Virginia.

"This significant grant demonstrates great confidence in our University at the national level," said President Mike Davis. "The funds will allow Fairmont State and our partners to open doors to new opportunities, expand our STEM workforce, and provide meaningful career pathways for West Virginians. Working with our regional partners, this work will support and grow our communities and employers for years to come. This is one more way that Fairmont State is working to make North-Central West Virginia a great place to call home."

Overall, ARC's Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization (POWER) Initiative will award funds to 65 projects in 188 counties. "ARC's POWER initiative supports coal-impacted communities' preparation for the next phase of Appalachia's economy, while ensuring that residents have a say in the course of their own futures," said ARC Federal Co-Chair Gayle Manchin. "The investments announced in this round of POWER will help train workers, advance new industries, and build upon the progress already being made toward a brighter future full of economic opportunity for our region."

Fairmont State's partner organizations represent various educational and economic players, including Glenville State University, Preston County Economic Development Authority, Barbour County Development Authority, Little Kanawha Development Corporation, Mtn Craft, High Rocks Educational Corporation, and public schools in Braxton, Upshur, and Calhoun counties. Additional support for the project is provided by Allegheny Science and Technology, the Region VI Workforce Development Board, SeeMore Impact Labs, and the Upshur County Development Authority. Since this is a matching grant, Fairmont State and other partners and supporters are also investing in this project.

Melanie White, Allegheny Science and Technology (AST) Director for Strategic Engagement, shared, "AST is excited to join Fairmont State University in this endeavor. Throughout West Virginia, there is no greater resource than our young people. Equipping them with the tools and resources that they need to learn, grow, and prosper is the best investment industry can make in WV's future."

The project will be led by Dr. Robert Niichel, Associate Professor of Mathematics at Fairmont State University. He is joined by fellow Fairmont State faculty members Dr. Erica Harvey, Emeritus Professor of Chemistry; Cliff Jackson, Associate Professor of Information Systems Management;

and Abby Chapman, Associate Professor of Occupational Safety. Three Glenville State faculty members are also members of the project: Brooke Fincham, Lecturer of Mathematics; Sara Sawyer, Professor of Biology; and Shalika Silva, Assistant Professor of Biology. Sarah Riley, Executive Director for High Rocks Education Corporation, rounds out the team.

"We hope that this project significantly improves the connections between higher education and industry in North-Central West Virginia, which in turn will help us keep our students here and fuel the workforce needs of our region," said Dr. Niichel.

This project aims to bolster the STEM workforce in the service region of Fairmont State and Glenville State by connecting industry, academics, educators, students, jobseekers, and workforce entities through a Regional Collaborative. The grant seeks to build and maintain mechanisms for regional STEM workforce stakeholders to engage in productive, collaborative work to develop the STEM education to career pipeline for students and other jobseekers. These goals arose from an assessment of the economic landscape of North-Central West Virginia led by Fairmont State and regional partners in April 2023 as part of an ARC planning grant.

Dr. Niichel shared, "I'm really excited about the STEM Entrepreneurship class we plan to offer starting next summer. I think we will have several local businesspeople sharing their insights and experiences with folks in the region who want to learn."

Funding for the POWER Initiative is targeted to build relationships and jumpstart programs that can be sustained by regional entities. This current grant will involve nine counties in North-Central West Virginia and ultimately mitigate some of the challenges jobseekers face in those areas.

Including this award package, ARC has invested over $484.7 million in 564 projects impacting 365 coal-impacted counties since POWER was established in 2015. ARC's investments have helped create or retain nearly 54,000 jobs and prepare nearly 170,000 workers and students for new opportunities in entrepreneurship, broadband, tourism, and other growing industries.

About Fairmont State University

Fairmont State University is a comprehensive, regional university committed to educating global citizen leaders in an environment distinguished by a commitment to excellence, student success, and transformational impact.

About the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC)

The Appalachian Regional Commission is an economic development partnership entity of the federal government and 13 state governments focusing on 423 counties across the Appalachian Region. ARC's mission is to innovate, partner, and invest to build community capacity and strengthen economic growth in Appalachia.