The Greensville County Board of Supervisors and the Board of Directors of the Southside Virginia Education Center are pleased to announce plans to proceed with the development of the third phase of the Southside Virginia Education Center (SVEC). SVEC is located in the Greensville County Office Park, on U.S. Route 301 approximately one half mile north of Interstate 95, Exit 13.

This announcement is made possible by a grant from the Virginia Tobacco Commission that awards Greensville County $1,502,622 to be used for the construction of Phase III. ” I am delighted that Greensville County was successful in obtaining grants from the Virginia Tobacco Commission to help develop the Employment Enhancement Center,” said Delegate Tommy Wright (R-61st) of Lunenburg County, a member of the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission. “It is extremely important that the expanded SVEC will be able to provide highly trained workers for existing and anticipated industries in Greensville County and Southside Virginia.”

The Tobacco Commission joins other local, state and federal agencies that are providing financial support of the third phase of SVEC. Financial support is being provided by the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, the U.S. Department of Education, Rural Development and Greensville County. The entire project budget is approximately $5.0 million.

The first phase of SVEC is the Southside Virginia Workforce Development Center. It is one of eight campuses of the Southside Virginia Community College as well as being the regional office of the Southside Programs for Adult Continuing Education. It also contains 10 classrooms as well as other miscellaneous office spaces. Educational opportunities are also offered by Mary Baldwin College and Longwood College, both of which are 4 year accredited Virginia colleges. The facility is served by state of the art technology including broadband services made possible by the cooperation of the Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative as well as distance learning opportunities within the Southside Community College network.

The second phase of SVEC is the Golden Leaf Commons, a 9,000 square foot facility complete with a full catering kitchen. The Golden Leaf Commons is used as a community facility as well as an enhancement to the adult education facility used by employers when addressing large groups of employees. It is also designed as an emergency services shelter for use when the Governor declares an emergency.

The third phase of the SVEC is the Employment Enhancement Center. It will contain additional classrooms for the Southside Virginia Community College, Longwood College and a high production manufacturing lab and an industrial arts lab. Both labs have been requested by local industries. In addition, Phase III will allow Greensville County to establish a Comprehensive One Stop Center. The Virginia Employment Center as well as the Department of Rehabilitative Services, the Improvement Association, and the Area Agency on Aging will join the Southside Virginia Community College and the Southside Programs for Adult Continuing Education in Phase III. The expanded SVEC will be an important facility and resource to provide workforce training services to Southside Virginia. This is particularly important as Southside Virginia develops the Mid Atlantic Advanced Manufacturing Center (MAMaC), the only mega site in Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland that has received certification by McCallum Sweeney Consulting. MAMaC is also located on Interstate 95, Exit 13, less than one half mile west of the SVEC. Information on MAMaC is available at www.MAMaCVA.com.