Stronger States, Stronger Outcomes

Aligning Education, Workforce, and Housing Systems in Rural Virginia
Rural communities are stronger when education, workforce, and community partners align around shared regional priorities. Virginia will share how partners in four Southwest Virginia counties are connecting K–12 education, community colleges, adult education, housing organizations, and workforce leaders through a structured needs-sensing process. With support from the Appalachia Regional Comprehensive Center and the Wellspring Foundation’s Appalachia Highlands Housing Partners, the work uses site visits, stakeholder engagement, and qualitative data to inform locally driven solutions. Current efforts include aligning career and technical education programs with construction workforce needs and regional economic priorities. Participants will learn practical strategies for conducting effective needs sensing, strengthening cross-sector partnerships, and translating local insights into program design, policy considerations, and sustained community action.