At the West Virginia Office of Broadband – a division of the West Virginia Department of Economic Development (WVDED)- we’re committed to ensuring the Mountain State has all of the infrastructure in place to provide every resident with access to reliable, affordable and high-speed broadband and the ability to use it effectively. A major component of achieving that goal is making sure the workforce is in place and ready to meet the state’s ambitious deployment goals.
Read more about the Office of Broadband’s mission in the State’s Broadband, Equity, Access, and Deployment (BEAD) Initial Proposal, Volume 2.
Broadband industry workforce needs are complex and evolving in West Virginia and across the country. The industry has never before seen the scale of development that the BEAD program is supporting. The resulting demand for workers requires the state to be responsive and dynamic. It’s also vital to stay engaged with employers and training providers as the employment opportunities continue to unfold.
“The evolving needs of this industry should be viewed as an opportunity – not an obstacle. To successfully implement the BEAD program, we need to be flexible and dynamic, while staying informed of employment needs and trends. For example, the type of worker that will be in demand will evolve over time,” said Luke N. Peters, WV BEAD Program Manager, citing Broadband Industry Experts. “As we continue to build infrastructure, and have conversations with industry leaders, construction workers and linemen will be in very high demand. Eventually, after the initial build-out, the necessary skills will shift to maintenance and interpersonal communications.”
Engaging with Key Industries
To understand the needs of industry, we have prioritized building partnerships since the inception of the Broadband Enhancement Council in 2017 and the Office of Broadband in 2021. In 2023, WVDED formally convened the Broadband Industry Workforce Development Council to gain perspective on the industry’s needs and workforce system’s capacity. That perspective is changing as states get closer to awarding BEAD grants.
In partnership with Marshall University, we conducted interviews with West Virginia broadband industry employers in early 2023.
Through this process, we discovered that many employers felt the scale they were currently operating at was “manageable” for West Virginia’s workforce and its subcontractors. Many reported that they relied on “in-house” training and “word-of-mouth” recruiting.
However, employers anticipate that the cost of “in-house” training will become burdensome and that employing already trained workers will result in cost-savings.
Investing in West Virginia’s Workforce
In response to the changing employment needs, we recently announced the Broadband Industry Workforce Development Grant Program. This program was created to empower education and training institutions to expand broadband industry opportunities for West Virginians.
The grant will provide total funding of between $20-50 million to successful applicants who may request up to $5 million per award. Designed with input of the Workforce Council and stakeholders, the grant is tailored to meet the evolving industry needs.
The Workforce Development Grant application period will open in the spring of 2025. Eligible entities include:
- Broadband industry associations
- Career and Technical Education institutions
- County Boards of Education
- Employers
- Higher education institutions
- K-12 schools and school districts
- Public-private partnerships
- Workforce development organizations.
By focusing on high-demand occupations and addressing regional skills gaps, state-funded broadband industry workforce programs can better prepare workers for available jobs and support long-term economic growth.
Resources for Interested Applicants
To ensure West Virginia’s training and workforce development entities are prepared to successfully submit grant applications, WVDED is leveraging funding from the Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) to provide Technical Assistance (TA) to interested applicants.
TA services include custom-built resources and grant writing support:
- Broadband Industry Workforce Development Grant Program Procedures
- Best Practices and National Resources
- Labor Market Data & Data companion
- Key Wrap-Around Service Resources
- Frequently Asked Questions about the Grant Program
- West Virginia Grant Resource Centers Application Support
All resources are found here and are designed to support a more efficient, cohesive broadband industry workforce development system in West Virginia.
It is vital that West Virginia continue to take a holistic, innovative approach to broadband initiatives. Ensuring we have a trained and qualified workforce is one crucial piece of this puzzle.
By leveraging insights from industry stakeholders and investing in data-driven, tailored workforce solutions, we continue to position West Virginia to meet current and future broadband workforce demands.