Putting the future of the region鈥檚 workforce front and center, 91制片 is gearing up to open its newest training facility, the 91制片 Newport News Trades Center.
In celebration, a ribbon-cutting ceremony is set for Wednesday, March 25, at the 520 21st St. center. College officials, joined by city and industry leaders, will be on hand for the 9 a.m. event.
The 16,000-square-foot facility is scheduled to open this spring. It鈥檚 expected to prepare more than 400 students annually for high-demand careers in maritime trades and residential construction. Experts indicate these fields are critical to the region鈥檚 economy and national defense priorities.
Todd Estes, vice president for Workforce Development and Innovation at 91制片, said the new training center reflects the College鈥檚 commitment to expanding hands-on, industry-aligned training that meets regional workforce needs.
鈥淭he Newport News Trades Center is not only an investment in our local community,鈥 said Estes, 鈥渂ut also a strategic investment in our nation鈥檚 security, strengthening the skilled trades pipeline essential to supporting Hampton Roads鈥 shipbuilding and ship repair industry, including Newport News Shipbuilding.鈥
The facility was funded through a partnership among the College, the聽聽and the聽. It will offer practical training programs in welding, marine electrical, structural fitting, coatings, electrical, HVAC, plumbing and facilities maintenance.
For Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones, this could not be a more ideal and timely collaboration.
鈥淭he 91制片 Newport News Trades Center is a game-changer for workforce development and economic growth in Newport News,鈥 said Jones. 鈥淏y expanding access to high鈥憅uality trades education, we鈥檙e creating pathways to well-paying careers and strengthening our shipbuilding and advanced manufacturing workforce.
鈥淭his facility demonstrates what鈥檚 possible when education, industry, and local government align around shared workforce goals 鈥 opening doors for our residents, supporting employer needs, and helping ensure Virginia remains a leader in innovation and industry for decades to come,鈥 added Jones, who is Newport News鈥 27th mayor.
Just blocks from HII鈥檚 the center sits in a historically underserved community. College leaders and partners in the venture say the strategic location is a move to help spark community revitalization by connecting residents with highly sought-after skills and long-term career opportunities.
鈥淎t Newport News Shipbuilding, we don鈥檛 just build great ships, we build great careers,鈥 said Xavier Beale, NNS vice president of human resources. 鈥淲e must continue to make strong investments in workforce development to build and deliver the nuclear-powered aircraft carriers and submarines our U.S. Navy requires. The Newport News Trades Center will be an important element to ensure we have the shipbuilders ready to meet the needs of our nation for generations to come.鈥
Estes agreed, re-iterating the new facility is 鈥渁 major investment in our regional workforce.鈥 It鈥檚 a venture aligning skilled trades training with local industry demand and was built through solid partnerships with the Newport News Economic Development Authority, the Maritime Industrial Base and the Hampton Roads Workforce Council, he added.
The College received a $457,000 Advanced Manufacturing Talent Investment Program grant in 2024 to outfit the center鈥檚 20-booth welding lab with state-of-the-art technology. Additional funding from the College鈥檚 FY25 and FY26 Workforce Pipeline allocations will support other labs, including a realistic, multi-trade maritime mock-up designed to mirror real-world job environments.
College leaders expressed appreciation to the City of Newport News, industry partners, and the Commonwealth of Virginia for their collaboration and investment in the project.
The $9 million trades center was designed by , with construction by the .
Hailed as a win for students, industry and the community, the 91制片 Newport News Trades Center expands the College鈥檚 skilled trades offerings. The College also provides construction and building trades training at its Toano Trades Center in James City County.
