Updates from the Office of Economic Development

GO COOK - Workforce Training Program to Launch August 30th

GO Cook is a five-week training program that prepares individuals for entry level culinary careers (e.g., food prep, pantry cook, line cook, etc.) within the restaurant industry. The program, free for eligible City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County residents, is a partnership among the City’s Office of Economic Development, Chef Antwon Brinson of Culinary Concepts AB LLC, and Albemarle County to offer training that will equip residents with basic cooking skills, ServSafe certification, a Certified Cook certification, and workplace essential skills. Classes will be held Monday through Friday, from 9:00am to 1:30pm, at Culinary Concepts AB (2041 Barracks Road) beginning August 30^th. After five weeks of training, participants will job shadow in local restaurants in order to gain hands-on experience. After successful completion of this program, participants will have the opportunity to be considered for employment with area food establishments. Participants will receive additional on-the-job training to continue growing their culinary skills.

Applications are being accepted now with interviews to follow. The application can be accessed HERE. Application assistance is available by contacting Roy Fitch at 970-3959 or Juandiego Wade at 970-4010.

Venture Central Launches to Foster Entrepreneurship

Venture Central, a collaborative project to support regional entrepreneurship, is nearing its official launch, founding partners announced recently. The partners, including the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, the University of Virginia, and the Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce, announced several recent milestones in the development of Venture Central, an innovative nonprofit organization. These include the seating of a new Board of Directors, funding from multiple sources to launch the initiative, and plans to open an executive leadership search to staff Venture Central with its first Executive Director. Each of these milestones brings the Venture Central concept closer to an official opening in the coming months. Venture Central’s mission is to serve and strengthen the Central Virginia entrepreneurial community by building and bridging connections, programs, funding, and spaces.

Venture Central has received support from GO (Growth and Opportunity) Virginia a statewide economic development initiative driving regional economic growth by incentivizing collaboration between business, education and local government through grant opportunities identified in regional Growth & Diversification Plans. For further information about Venture Central, visit this LINK.

Downtown Job Center Spotlight

Check out the recent Downtown Job Center Employer Spotlight with feature Employer The IRC! The International Rescue Committee’s Director Harriet Kuhr stopped by to share several job opportunities with me on Facebook Live. Employment opportunities are currently available at both the Charlottesville and Richmond offices. 22 jobs are open and include a Fulltime Operations Coordinator role at both locations and several Caseworker roles. Additionally, the nationwide agency always welcomes volunteers to assist them with carrying out their mission. Links are included for both the agency website and the recent interview.

The International Rescue Committee website
International Rescue Committee (IRC)

Employer Spotlight Interview
https://www.facebook.com/100000668926804/videos/854017265498303/

Charlottesville Ale Trail Hosts Annual "Walk Our City" Event

On Saturday, August 14^that 12pm, the Charlottesville Ale Trail will start its annual “Walk Our City” beer walk to celebrate and support the 6 City-based local craft breweries on the Charlottesville Ale Trail. The walk will start at Champion Brewery and participants can travel the entire 1.5 mile path throughout the day. To buy tickets and see the schedule, click here.

"Mobi on the Mall" Offers Convenient Vaccination Access on the DTM

The City of Charlottesville is working with the Blue Ridge Health District (BRHD) to offer its employees and the public an opportunity to receive vaccinations every week at a convenient location on the Downtown Mall in front of City Hall. BRHD's mobile vaccination unit "Mobi" will be parked in front of the Ting Pavilion every Monday from 1–3 p.m. for any community member interested in receiving the vaccine. The schedule is currently set for 6 weeks but could be extended if vaccinations at that location are consistent.

Return to Earn Program Still Available for Businesses

Last month Governor Northam launched the Return to Earn Grant Program to support small businesses with their post-pandemic hiring needs. Through this initiative, Virginia's local workforce development boards will match up to $500 that a qualifying small business pays directly to a new employee in the form of a hiring bonus. Childcare businesses are not required to match. More information about which specific businesses and employees are eligible is available here. Interested small businesses should contact OED who can help answer questions and refer them to additional resources at the Piedmont Region’s Workforce Development Board.

Upcoming Webinars from CVSBDC

CV SBDC is a team of business and technical experts available to listen, advise and assist entrepreneurs, confidentially and free of charge. They offer 1:1 assistance, connection to curated research, access to technical experts and professionals, and timely events and training.

Reach Customers Online with Google – August 18^th at 10:30 am: PREREGISTER

Cyber Awareness Training for Your Business – August 18^th at 12:00 pm PREREGISTER

Success through e-Commerce – August 24^th at 12:00 pm PREREGISTER

Start Your Business – August 26^th 1:00 pm PREREGISTER