Virginia Launches $1.3 Million Youth Workforce Pilot Program

The Virginia Department of Energy (Virginia Energy) has announced the launch of the Skilled Pathways for Advancement, Resilience & Knowledge (SPARK) Youth Workforce Pilot Program, a new initiative aimed at preparing young Virginians for high-demand careers in the energy sector.

"Where energy goes, economic opportunity follows," said Virginia Energy Director Glenn Davis. "With this investment, we're not just preparing the next generation of Virginians for high-paying, high-impact careers-we're building the workforce that will power Virginia's economic growth for decades to come."

Funded through $1.3 million in federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA) funds, SPARK will support up to five regional workforce development programs with sub-awards of up to $500,000 each.

The SPARK initiative directly addresses growing labor shortages in Virginia's energy sector, as employers prepare for a wave of retirements while facing unprecedented infrastructure

expansion. By training local talent, SPARK aims to keep these jobs-and their economic benefits-rooted in Virginia communities.

The full press release can be found here.