A. Out of this appropriation, $16,000,000 the first year and $17,000,000 the second year from the general fund is designated for workforce development training. Oversight ahead of all funding transfers outlined below shall be coordinated and released by the Secretary of Education, the Secretary of Finance, the director of the Department of Planning and Budget, the director of the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia, the staff directors of the House Appropriation and Senate Finance and Appropriations Committees, and the director of the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. Additionally, the designated reviewers shall collaborate with the Superintendent of Public Instruction before approving spending plans supporting the Direct Aid to Public Education (197) funding area. Upon approval, the Department of Planning and Budget shall transfer to each agency the following amounts for this purpose:

B. 1. Out of the above appropriation, $3,000,000 the first year and $10,000,000 the second year from the general fund supports the Innovative Internship Fund and Program, § 23.1-903.4, Code of Virginia. This funding is designated to expand paid or credit-bearing student internships and other work-based learning experiences in collaboration with Virginia employers so that, over time, every Virginia undergraduate student who wants such an opportunity may access it without extending time to completion of undergraduate study.

2.a. Out of the above appropriation, $8,000,000 the first year from the general fund is designated for G3 Innovation Grants.

b. The Virginia Community College System (VCCS), in collaboration with the Office of Education and Labor Market Alignment within the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Authority System, and in accordance with § 23.1-2911.2 D., shall award grants to community colleges in order to increase the capacity and responsiveness of colleges to meet regional labor market needs of employers, unemployed and underemployed workers, and incumbent workers.

3. Out of the above appropriation, $2,000,000 the first year and $2,000,000 the second year from the general fund is designated for the Virginia Community College System to support the Network2Work program, connecting job seekers to training and career resources.

4. Out of the above appropriation, $2,500,000 the second year from the general fund is designated for economic development programming under the Hampton Roads Skilled Trades Rapid On-ramp Network for Growth (STRONG) initiative, as funded under VCCS. The Virginia Community College System shall collaborate with the Hampton Roads Workforce Council to support career access and training opportunities in the naval shipbuilding, offshore wind, and road and tunnel construction industries.

5.a. Out of the above appropriation, $2,500,000 the second year from the general fund is designated for the Advanced Manufacturing Talent Investment Program and Fund pilot, as established by Chapter 499 and Chapter 500, 2022 Acts of Assembly. These Notwithstanding the provisions of § 23.1-1244, Code of Virginia, any unxepended amounts from these funds shall be allocated by the Virginia Economic Development Partnership Office of the Secretary of Labor in accordance with provisions established in § 23.1-1244 and shall be used to increase the number of trained individuals entering advanced manufacturing careers. Moneys in the Fund shall be used to support this effort and to improve the readiness of graduates to be employed in identified advanced manufacturing fields.

b. The pilot shall be limited to existing programs that serve advanced manufacturing needs in the Hampton Roads and Southwest Virginia regions. Such programs may be operated by one or more of the following: (i) a comprehensive community college; (ii) a career and technical education program operated by a local school board or a group of school boards; (iii) the Institute of Advanced Learning and Research; (iv) the New College Institute; (v) Richard Bland College; (vi) the Roanoke Higher Education Center; (vii) the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center; or (viii) the Southwest Virginia Higher Education Center. Program applicants shall be encouraged to partner with regional businesses and industries on program development and implementation.

c. The existing capacity of current eligible credential programs and awards shall not duplicate underutilized existing programs within the same region.

d. Recipients of program funding under the pilot shall submit reports on the progress of their programming to the Governor, the Chairs of the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Finance and Appropriations Committee, and relevant staff no later than June 30, 2024.

6. Out of this appropriation, $3,000,000 the first year from the general fund is provided for competitive grants to school divisions to increase the teaching of students in skilled trades that lead to earning industry-recognized certifications or credentials. These grants shall provide one-time assistance to divisions to establish, expand, or restore such programs in middle or high school. These grants shall support programs offering industry-recognized certifications or credentials that are in demand by regional employers and lead to employment. Funds shall be used to support equipment, curriculum development and instructor training. The Department of Education shall establish application guidelines, including a requirement for school divisions to provide an operational plan to maintain the program after the funds are disbursed.