December 4, 2023
Transurban North America, operator of the 95, 395, and 495 Express Lanes, celebrated the imminent completion of the 95 Express Lanes Fredericksburg Extension with a $250,000 grant to the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education (VFCCE) to support the Virginia Infrastructure Academy (VIA) at Germanna Community College.
Joined by the VFCCE, the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT), elected officials, and community members, Transurban presented the contribution that will go toward VIA’s mission to train individuals, including our military veterans, for careers in infrastructure.
“We at Transurban are thrilled to be part of delivering the modern infrastructure needed to keep Virginia going—helping maintain our status as a top state for business. But we can’t do it alone,” said Amanda Baxter, Senior Vice President of Virginia Market and Operations, Transurban North America. “Virginia Infrastructure Academy trains the workers we need to design, build, and operate the essential infrastructure that keeps our communities running—connecting military veterans with the jobs of the future. We’re proud to continue the Academy’s mission with a $250,000 grant today.”
In coordinating existing infrastructure training across the Commonwealth, VIA offers short-term industry training and credentials leading to employment for thousands of Virginians—building long-term career development and overall economic growth. Virginia companies are currently trying to fill more than 260,000 jobs, fueled by record-low unemployment and a shrinking workforce.
“Bringing together industry partners has been key to providing students with a direct pipeline to high-wage careers and has helped our businesses build a pipeline of trained talent to support their workforce,” said Dr. David Doré, Chancellor of the Virginia Community College System. “Transurban’s leadership investment will serve as a testament to the power and impact that businesses, colleges, and students can have by working together to grow Virginia’s economy.”
With the goal of filling 35,000 infrastructure jobs in the next five years, the partnership between Transurban, VFCCE, and industry leaders funds efforts to connect military veterans with employment coaches, networking events, and employer recruiters. Upon graduation from one of Virginia’s 23 community colleges, VIA alumni achieve an average of a 55% pay increase when they enter the workforce.
“In my career at the intersection of infrastructure and education, I know that Transurban’s investment will significantly further the Virginia Infrastructure Academy’s goal of supporting our graduates and by extension, our communities,” said Ed Dalrymple, Jr., who serves on a variety of boards including the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education and the Germanna Community College Education Foundation. “I look forward to seeing the VIA continue to flourish, putting people to work to build Virginia’s future.”
Transurban’s contribution to VIA rounds out to over $500,000 in community grants throughout Fredericksburg and Stafford County, supporting more than 80 nonprofit organizations committed to community strength, environmental sustainability, and improved safety.