Our strategic initiatives ensure a pipeline of manufacturing talent. Middle school students are exposed to precision machining, welding, IT / cybersecurity, robotics, automation/mechatronics, and advanced materials and later obtain industry recognized credentials in secondary school. The two-year technical college Precision Manufacturing Technology results in university degree and certifications.
The Precision Machining Technology program results in university degree and certifications. Quality technician graduates sit for the American Society for Quality certification exam with a waiver of the two-year industry training requirement due to the industrial flow cell training. This industry flow cell concept expands into machining, robotics, welding, and mechatronics. Patrick Henry Community College has had a 100% passing rate on industry certifications for the 30+ year history of the welding program.

The Gene Haas Center for Integrated Machining is a progressive precision machining training model that answers industry expressed needs for a highly skilled workforce. Students receive a college degree, and six industry certifications. The capstone model is being extended for welding, mechatronics, and robotics. A manufacturing engineering program is also in final stages of development with Old Dominion University.

Patrick County Schools
Patrick County Schools

K-12 Fully Accredited and Ranked 9th in the State

11 Community Colleges
11 Community Colleges

in a 45-mile radius of Patrick County

7 Universities
7 Universities

in a 45-mile radius of Patrick County

K-12 Education

Patrick County Public Schools are Fully Accredited and have consistently proven to be among the state’s elite. Patrick County Public Schools is made up of six elementary schools and one high school and are ranked 9th in the state.

Patrick County participates in GO TEC Career Connections, career exploration for middle schools. Great Opportunities in Technology and Engineering Careers (GO TEC) can open the door to engineering and technology careers early.  The GO TEC Career Connections program introduces students to five focus areas:  precision machining; welding; IT / cybersecurity; robotics, automation and mechatronics; and advanced materials. Healthcare, identified as a regional priority, has also been included as a unit within the program.  Learn More

Community Colleges

Patrick Henry Community College 

Patrick Henry Community College (PHCC) serves students from throughout Patrick, Henry, and Franklin Counties for dual high school and career & technical education. PHCC has been rated among the top ten Most Tech-Savvy community colleges in the country by the Center for Digital Education. Most importantly, industry or relevant third-party certificates are embedded in the curriculum of all academic programs to enhance career readiness of graduates. PHCC has a Satellite Campus in Patrick County.

  • Expanded welding program to Patrick County satellite campus
  • Welding lab at Patrick County High School
  • Mechatronics lab in Patrick County with Siemens and Festo Industry 4.0 instruction and certifications
  • Named Festo Center of Excellence in Industry 4.0 Advanced Manufacturing
  • 100% passing rate on industry certifications for the 30+ year history of the welding program.

Danville Community College

Danville Community College (DCC) is a two-year institution of higher education under the state-wide Virginia Community College System.  DCC offers an Associate of Applied Science, Industrial Maintenance and Precision Integrated Machining pathways and Career Studies Certificates. DCC’s Regional Center for Advanced Training and Technology (RCATT) is a 24,000 sf facility that provides workforce development training in factory automation and robotics. Programs include mechatronics, robotics, hydraulics, pneumatics, PLC programming, and electronics. This facility is a certified Fanuc Robotics Training Center.

Gene Haas Center for Integrated Machining

The Gene Haas Center for Integrated Machining is a progressive precision machining training model that answers industry expressed needs for a highly skilled 21st century workforce. The program is currently supported with over $1 Million in commitments from leading global technology companies and builds on existing Commonwealth and local investments in area secondary and community college advanced machining programs aimed at increasing the number of skilled workers in the Commonwealth. The program aims to integrate a “real-world” lean flow-cell manufacturing environment with such skills as tool management, advanced testing and measurement, electrical discharge machining, computer numerically controlled grinding, computer numerically controlled milling, computer numerically controlled turning, and business processes.

Universities

Virginia Tech

With  over 34,400 students enrolled, Virginia Tech is one of the Commonwealth’s largest universities, the 2nd largest university level transportation institute in US and a leading research center is a public, land-grant research university with its main campus in Blacksburg, Virginia. Virginia Tech is ranked 48th in university research in the United States and is located one-hour from Patrick County.  The Center for High Performance Manufacturing (CHPM), located 30 miles northwest at Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, conducts research and development of tools and technologies to help manufacturers become high-performance.

Radford University

Radford University is a comprehensive public university of 10,695 students that has received national recognition for many of its undergraduate and graduate academic programs, as well as its sustainability initiatives. Radford University is located one-hour from Patrick County and serves the Commonwealth of Virginia and the nation through a wide range of academic, cultural, human service, and research programs. Well-known for its strong faculty/student bonds, innovative use of technology in the learning environment, and vibrant student life on a beautiful 204-acre American classical campus, Radford University offers students many opportunities to get involved and succeed in and out of the classroom.

Research and Higher Education Locally

New College Institute

New College Institute’s (NCI) Center of Advanced Manufacturing provides technology education, manufacturing training, and consulting services that contribute to continuous workforce and technology development and business success. Their advanced manufacturing team, innovative solutions, and low-cost pricing helps companies of all sizes access the training and pipeline development needed to remain economically competitive. In addition to college-level degree and certification programs through partner institutions such as Radford University, University of Virginia, and Virginia Commonwealth University, NCI offers experiential learning opportunities such as the NCI Internship Program, regional cybersecurity, and engineering competitions.

Institute for Advanced Learning and Research

The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR) serves as a regional catalyst for economic transformation. IALR provides optimization of processes and launch space for manufacturing in the region as well as applied research and customized industry credentials. IALR’s Applied Research division includes: Analytical Chemistry, Advanced Materials, Life Sciences & Biotechnology and Precision Agriculture. The Advanced Manufacturing division focuses on meeting and exceeding the optimization and workforce needs of new and existing industry.