WISE, VA – MAY 19, 2026 – An up to $230,016 grant from the Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority (VCEDA) will be used for workforce development and training for Hospitality and Tourism Management and Culinary, Restaurant and Event Management trainee pilot programs at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise.

The grant, from the VCEDA Coalfield Workforce Development and Training Fund, was made to the Rector & Visitors of the University of Virginia for the programs.

“The University of Virginia’s College at Wise is interested in establishing a two-year pilot program to provide UVA Wise students with work-based learning experiences in the VCEDA region, in collaboration with employers in the region,” said VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher. “The VCEDA funding will enable UVA Wise to add expanded experiential and extracurricular learning opportunities that create an accessible pathway into the workforce while helping employers address critical staffing challenges.”

As proposed, the grant will be used to implement two coordinated pilot programs combining hands-on instruction with college credit, direct employer engagement and real-world service experiences for students. The two programs are the Hospitality and Tourism Management Trainee Pilot and the Culinary, Restaurant and Event Management Pilot. The goal set by UVA Wise is to have 30 student trainees complete the Hospitality and Tourism Management Trainee Pilot by the end of the two-year pilot period, supported by at least four employer partners across the VCEDA region.

“The trainee program will require each trainee complete at least 75 hours of work and work-related preparation per semester in addition to weekly attendance of classroom instruction led by a hospitality and tourism instructor with 30 years experience, while earning three college credits,” said Gurkan Akalin, chair of the department of business and economics at UVA Wise.  “At least 10 of those students are expected to continue working for an additional semester with the same employer.”

Student participants in the program will be those in hospitality and tourism management, business, or related majors.  Additionally, at least 30 students will participate in the culinary pilot program and earn three college credits through a combination of training and work-based learning and also gain experience by supporting culinary luncheon events.

The experiential learning experiences go hand-in-hand with bachelor’s degree and undergraduate certificate programs in Hospitality and Tourism Management launched by UVA Wise in 2024.  Since being launched, that program has demonstrated strong student interest, with enrollment growing steadily to 101 unique students enrolled through eight sessions in Spring of 2026.  In the past two years, the program has also built relationships with regional employers including the Inn at Wise, Friends of Southwest Virginia, Hard Rock Bristol Casino and Foundever.

“UVA Wise is proud to partner with VCEDA in expanding career-building, hands-on opportunities in the hospitality, culinary and tourism fields,” said UVA Wise Chancellor Donna Henry. “At UVA Wise, we know that expanding experiential learning opportunities for our students creates pathways into the workforce and strengthens our region. VCEDA’s grant will help us do that in new ways.”

About Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority and Southwest Virginia’s e-Region: The Virginia Coalfield Economic Development Authority, created by the Virginia General Assembly in 1988 to enhance and diversify the region’s economy and help create jobs, markets Southwest Virginia’s e-Region and its focus on electronic information technology, energy, education, emerging technologies, and entrepreneurship. VCEDA is a unique economic development organization that manages funds for economic development projects from a percentage of the coal and natural gas severance taxes paid by coal and natural gas companies that operate in the region. Located in southwestern Virginia, the region includes Buchanan, Dickenson, Lee, Russell, Scott, Tazewell, and Wise counties and the City of Norton. www.vceda.us or www.e-Region.org.

PHOTO CAPTION: VCEDA Executive Director/General Counsel Jonathan Belcher, second from right, presents a ceremonial check for $230,016 to UVA Wise Chancellor Donna Henry, second from left, to be utilized for workforce development and training for Hospitality and Tourism Management and Culinary, Restaurant and Event Management trainee pilot programs at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise. Also pictured are Gurkan Akalin, UVA Wise business and economics chair, left; and Randall Rose, associate vice chancellor – community & economic development, right.