Blue Ridge Job Corps urges county help after sudden federal shutdown threat

Heather Goodpaster, outreach and admissions/career transition services manager for Blue Ridge Job Corps in Marion, told the board the national office ordered an abrupt closure that initially required centers to shut down within days. She said the center lost a substantial portion of its enrollment but has since received temporary extensions while litigation proceeded (the National Job Corps Association filed an injunction), leaving staff in limbo and students uncertain.

Goodpaster emphasized Job Corps is a free, residential career and technical education program for 16–24‑year‑olds (with disability exceptions), and said the local center offers health‑care training and other workforce tracks. She asked county leaders to help publicize the program, assist with recruitment, and support outreach to local high schools and community partners. She said the center had roughly 34–35 students at the time of the meeting and that time is short to restore numbers to levels federal reviewers expect to keep the program open.

Board members and citizens offered suggestions including community college partnerships, targeted outreach to graduating students, and mailer campaigns; staff and board members agreed to coordinate on outreach materials and to consider budget or administrative support where feasible.