Advanced Manufacturing Talent Investment Program Report, Virginia Economic Development Partnership (June 2024)

Summary

Memo dated June 28, 2024, from Jason El Koubi, President & CEO of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership, to the Governor and the chairs of the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee and House Appropriations Committee. It transmits a progress report on the Advanced Manufacturing Talent Investment Program (AMTIP) and Fund. The report states that $2,500,000 was designated for a pilot fund in FY23-24. In Round 1, the reviewers elected to fund two projects fully, with awards totaling $465,005. After that round $2,034,995 remained, and Round 2 awards funded seven projects. All but $8.49 of the $2.5 million fund was awarded, and a final report is due by June 30, 2025.

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Full text

To:    Governor Glenn Youngkin
       Senator Louise Lucas, Chair of Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee
       Delegate Luke Torian, Chair of House Appropriations Committee

From: Jason El Koubi, President & CEO, Virginia Economic Development Partnership

Date: June 28, 2024

Re:    Advanced Manufacturing Talent Investment Program Report



During the 2022 General Assembly Special Session, funding was provided in Item 487.50 (B)(5) of Chapter 2
of the 2022 Acts of Assembly, Special Session I (the Budget) that directed the Virginia Economic Development
Partnership Authority (VEDP) to establish the Advanced Manufacturing Talent Investment Program (AMTIP)
and Fund, pursuant to section 23.1-1244 of the Code of Virginia. The Virginia Economic Development
Partnership (VEDP) is responsible for administering the program and distributing the funds.

The Fund was created to increase the number of trained individuals entering advanced manufacturing careers
and to improve the readiness of graduates to be employed in identified advanced manufacturing fields. Funds
were designated for existing programs serving the Hampton Roads and Southwest Virginia regions (Growth
and Opportunity Virginia (GOVA) Regions 1 and 5) and other named institutions.

The Budget also requires this report be submitted to the Governor, the Chairs of the House Appropriations
Committee and the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, and relevant staff.

Attached, you will find the a progress report the Advanced Manufacturing Talent Investment Program (AMTIP)
and Fund.
Advanced Manufacturing Talent Investment Program Report

The Advanced Manufacturing Talent Investment Program (AMTIP) and Fund, established pursuant to section
23.1-1244 of the Code of Virginia, was created to increase the number of trained individuals entering advanced
manufacturing careers and to improve the readiness of graduates to be employed in identified advanced
manufacturing fields. Funds were designated for existing programs serving the Hampton Roads and Southwest
Virginia regions (Growth and Opportunity Virginia (GOVA) Regions 1 and 5) and other named institutions.

The General Assembly approved funding in Chapter 2 (2022 Special Session I), Item 487.50 (B)(5).
$2,500,000 was designated for a pilot fund in FY23-24. The Virginia Economic Development Partnership
(VEDP) is responsible for administering the program and distributing the funds.

Round 1 of Applications

An initial request for proposals (RFP) for the program was released with an application window of July 10 –
August 18, 2023. Applicants could request funding between $50,000 and $250,000. Eleven eligible applicants
submitted proposals. VEDP convened a group of experts to review the applications and make award
recommendations on August 29, 2023. A follow-up meeting was held on September 18. The reviewers elected
to fund two projects fully:

Institution          Project Title                                Award          Amount
                                                                  Amount         Disbursed
Southwest Virginia SWCC’s Integrative Advancement:                $215,025       $189,788.48
Community College Mechatronics Enhancement & Expansion in
                   Advanced Manufacturing and Electrical
                   Electronics
Virginia Highlands Advanced Manufacturing Enhanced        $249,980
Community College Capacity Initiative


TOTAL                                                             $465,005       $189,788.48

The performance date for these two projects is October 31, 2024. The awardees submitted interim reports on
April 30, 2024, for project activities through March 31, 2024. Both projects are primarily on track. Southwest
Virginia Community College submitted its first request for reimbursement with its interim report. They were
approved for the requested $189,788.48. Virginia Highlands Community College has not yet submitted a
request for reimbursement. Final reports and requests for reimbursement for both projects are due November
29, 2024.

Round 2 of Applications

After the initial round of applications, $2,034,995 of the AMTIP funds remained. The review committee decided
to release a second RFP to distribute these funds. The original RFP was revised based on reviewer feedback
after the first round of applications. The most significant revision was to increase award amounts to between
$100,000 and $500,000. The awardees from the first round were eligible to apply for an additional $100,000 to
$250,000.




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The second RFP was released with an application window of March 1 – April 15, 2024. Eleven eligible
applicants submitted proposals. One additional applicant did not meet basic eligibility requirements. The review
committee met to make award determinations on May 10, 2024. They elected to fully fund three projects and
partially fund four additional projects:


Institution            Project Title                                    Award Amount
Giles County           Modernize Precision Machining Technology Program $233,800
Technology Center
Mountain Empire        Precision Machining                                    $214,555
Community College
Tidewater Community TCC Welding Program Capacity Building                     $458,100,30
College
Tazewell County        Crafting the Advanced Manufacturing Workforce of       $344,009.21
Public Schools         Tomorrow
Virginia Highlands     Welding Expansion Initiative                           $212,565
Community College
Virginia Peninsula     Expanding Welding Workforce Capacity for Maritime $457,233
Community College      Defense
Wythe County           Enhancing WCTC Welders                                 $114,724
Technology Center
TOTAL                                                                         $2,034,986.51


The performance date for these seven projects is March 31, 2025. Interim reports are due November 30, 2024,
and final reports are due April 30, 2025. As of June 10, 2024, four of the Memorandums of Understanding
(MOUs) have been fully executed; the remaining three will be executed by June 30, 2024.

Between the two awards from the first round and the seven awards from the second round, all but $8.49 of the
$2.5 million AMTIP fund were awarded.

Final Report

Once all reports and requests for reimbursement have been submitted and reviewed, a final report about the
AMTIP program will be submitted by June 30, 2025.




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