Published: August 11, 2008 09:40 pm      

Workforce development, training initiative coming to cable television

BLUEFIELD, Va. — Tazewell County officials are teaming up with Comcast and Time Warner cable companies to launch a unique new workforce development initiative for Southwest Virginia and parts of southern West Virginia.

Commonwealth Secretary of Technology Aneesh Chopra traveled to the Tazewell County Business and Technology Center Monday to announce the creation of the new Talent Solutions Network.

The new channel and free remote training will reach thousands of basic cable subscribers in Tazewell, Russell and Buchanan counties, as well as parts of Mercer County.

“The Talent Solutions Network is an innovative approach to meet the growing demands of our current and future employers in the Bluestone region,” Chopra said. “By dedicating a resource capable of producing and broadcasting training programs, we can reach out to a broader pool of workers eager to participate in an increasingly more technology-driven economy. I applaud the leaders of Tazewell County for this effort and look forward to contributing the very best content from across the Commonwealth.”

The new channel will provide a wide variety of workforce development training programs to area residents, who in return won’t have to deal with issues such as driving to an educational facility, fuel costs, child care and other issues. It will be broadcast on channel 240 on Comcast Cable and on channel 58 on Time Warner Cable.

“We have to grow this county not only economically, but educationally at the same time,” Bill Wimmer, vice chairman of the Tazewell County Board of Supervisors, said.

“This is a partnership between local business and the local community,” David Troxel with Comcast Communications, said.

C.K. Allen, of Time Warner Cable, said officials were sold on the idea of the workforce training channel on the first day they met with Tazewell County officials.

The channel also will help with workforce training for the proposed 680 acre Bluestone Regional Business and Technology Park, Tazewell County Administrator Jim Spencer said.

“It’s not only for the Bluestone, but for the entire region,” Spencer said. “We are interested in creating talent in the region.”

The new 24-7 training channel helps to invoke a new spirit of “Commonwealth” in the Commonwealth of Virginia, Chopra said.

“The spirit of Commonwealth means we think of each of us as members of an extended family,” Chopra said.

Area community colleges, colleges and training institutions in the region also will be provided programming time on the system to inform the viewing public of programs they have available, and will be given the opportunity to educate the public on multiple financial aid options.

The long-term vision for the Talent Solution Network includes training that will assist virtually every level of employment; providing employment posting for businesses and those seeking employment; and providing various Workforce Investment Act partnering agencies air time to promote programs and eligibility requirements for the services they offer.

Spencer said officials would like to talk to satellite television providers as well about the possibility of providing the new Talent Solution Network to viewers of satellite programming.

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com