West Virginia selected for national initiative to expand career pathways in rural communities
More West Virginians will soon have access to affordable, career-focused education programs close to home — thanks to West Virginia’s selection for a major national initiative aimed at creating high-quality training pathways in rural areas.
West Virginia has been named one of just five states to join the Rural Talent Development and Attraction Lab (Rural Talent Lab), a four-year effort to help rural residents build skills for good-paying jobs without leaving their communities. Led by the Alliance for Research on Regional Colleges (ARRC), in partnership with the State Higher Education Executive Officers Association (SHEEO) and HCM Strategists, the initiative is supported by a $7.2 million grant from Ascendium Education Group.
West Virginia joins Kansas, Montana, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania in this effort to create middle-skill credential programs — leading to high value certificates and associate degrees — that are directly aligned with local workforce needs. The new programs will prepare students for in-demand careers that pay at least $15 an hour and offer benefits, while helping communities strengthen their economies and retain homegrown talent.
“With its strong rural identity and workforce needs, West Virginia stands to benefit enormously from this work,” said Dr. Chris Rasmussen, Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. “The Rural Talent Lab will allow us to create practical, affordable pathways to high-wage careers that meet the needs of our students, employers, and communities. It’s about helping more West Virginians build strong futures in the places they call home.”
More than 50 of West Virginia’s 55 counties are considered rural, and many communities have long faced challenges with workforce readiness, population loss, and access to affordable postsecondary education. By focusing on middle-skill credentials—such as degrees and certificates in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, energy, and skilled trades—this initiative will support the state’s ongoing efforts to align higher education with economic development.
The state’s participation in the Rural Talent Lab also builds on work already underway to expand access to community and technical college programs that are fast, affordable, and designed with employer input. The initiative will provide new funding, national expertise, and a structured roadmap to launch at least four new credential pathways in West Virginia by Fall 2027.
The Rural Talent Lab places rural voices at the center of program design. West Virginia’s team will conduct community listening tours, public opinion surveys, labor market analyses, and learning academies to ensure that new programs reflect real needs and provide real opportunity.
For more information about the Rural Talent Lab, visit regionalcolleges.org.