CECE workshop looks to help build future of Appalachia's construction industry
Sarah Lyon Hill (second from left) leads a discussion.
A grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission will help Virginia Tech create a road map to address the affordable housing crisis and promote innovative and sustainable construction practices in Central Appalachia.
The Center for Economic and Community Engagement (CECE), in partnership with the Virginia Center for Housing Research in the College of Engineering, received a $453,743 grant through the commission’s Appalachian Regional Initiative for Stronger Economies (ARISE) initiative that aims to drive large-scale, regional economic transformation through multistate collaborative projects across Appalachia.
The Virginia Tech-led project will develop a comprehensive workforce training strategy for industrialized construction, a promising approach that aims to reduce costs, waste, and emissions while addressing housing affordability challenges. After the completion of the planning grant, the team will be eligible to apply for $10 million in implementation funding.