On Monday, 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 Infrastructure Academy at Germanna Community College.
Joined by the Virginia Foundation for Community College Education, the Virginia Department of Transportation, elected officials, and community members, Transurban presented the contribution to the Infrastructure Academy’s mission to train military veterans for a career in infrastructure.
A significant portion of the funds will go toward outreach, recruitment, and employment efforts to get more veteran students into road and bridge construction careers. Other elements of the award, including a Virginia Infrastructure Academy Coach, will support all students pursuing credentials and careers in the area of road and bridge construction.
“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, the Infrastructure Academy 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.
Intending to fill 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 percent pay increase when they enter the workforce.
“In my career at the intersection of infrastructure and education, Transurban’s contribution toward furthering the endeavors of the Virginia Infrastructure Academy will support the graduates—and, by extension, their communities,” said Ed Dalrymple, Jr., who serves on a variety of boards including the Germanna Community College Education Foundation. “I look forward to seeing VIA continue flourishing, putting people to work to build Virginia’s future.”
Transurban’s contribution to VIA rounds out 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.