RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Over $6 million in grant funding will help strengthen Virginia's workforce statewide, including in Central Virginia. On Tuesday, Dec. 30, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced that $6.2 million in Growth and Opportunity for Virginia (GO Virginia) grant funding will be awarded to 10 projects that "advance Virginia’s economic competitiveness through innovation, workforce development and strategic industry growth," according to a press release. Through grants like these, Youngkin's office says, GO Virginia has created 1,100 new businesses, expanded another 1,100 businesses and generated 25,000 jobs since 2022. The GO Virginia investments announced on Tuesday will touch a range of industries, from electrical engineering to aviation maintenance. Virginia’s minimum wage is going up again in 2026 Many of them are also moving forward in partnership with Virginia's schools, community colleges and research universities. According to the release, this will give students a chance to gain new skills and opportunities that could land them higher-quality, higher-wage jobs in valuable industries that need workers. Roughly half of this grant funding has been directed to three major projects that benefit Central Virginia localities. Keep scrolling to learn more about each of them. Industrial Skills Trades Regional Expansion -- $1,346,786 More than $1.3 million in grant funding will go towards expanding industrial skills trades training throughout Southern Virginia through a partnership with the Danville Community College and the Southside Virginia Community College. These programs will offer training in the electrical, carpentry, HVAC, plumbing and industrial maintenance industries, according to Youngkin's office. Richmond takes major step toward lead-free water with 73,000 notification letters This initiative will be offered in Virginia's Region 3, which includes the Central Virginia counties of Amelia, Buckingham, Cumberland, Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Nottoway and Prince Edward. Small Business Opportunity Center Expansion -- $1,225,000 About $1.2 million in grant funding will be used to expand Virginia Commonwealth University's (VCU) Small Business Opportunity Center to reach residents across Central Virginia, Hampton Roads, Fredericksburg and Northern Virginia. It will do this through partnerships with both universities and entrepreneur support organizations, per the release. "By increasing access to technical assistance and sector-specific expertise, the initiative aims to strengthen the growth of traded-sector startups and small businesses throughout the Commonwealth," Youngkin's office said. This initiative will be offered in Virginia regions 4, 5, 6 and 7, which include the Central Virginia counties of Charles City, Chesterfield, Henrico and Prince George, as well as the city of Richmond. Expanding the GO TEC Career Pathways -- $1,016,000 Just over $1 million in grant funding will go towards establishing Region 9's first-ever GO TEC Career Connection Labs within Albemarle County Public Schools. All middle schools in Albemarle and Greene counties, as well as Charlottesville, will be equipped with these labs. Outgoing Richmond-based UNOS CEO shares open letter as new contract with federal government begins Participating students will be introduced to "high-demand skills" like IT coding and networking, automation and robotics, precision machining, electrical and mechanical engineering, manufacturing engineering, biotechology and welding, per the release. This initiative will be offered in Virginia's Region 9, which includes the Central Virginia localities of Albemarle County and the city of Charlottesville. To learn more about GO Virginia, click here. ...read more read less