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The Shenandoah Valley Connectiontop 
November 20, 2020
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Member News: Gov. Northam Announces Dynamic Aviation to Create 207 New Jobs in Rockingham
Harrisonburg-Rockingham Pre-Session Legislative Breakfast (12/4)
Winter 2021 College for Kids | Harrisonburg
SVTC Offering Start-Up Grants for FIRST LEGO League Teams
Welcome Back Level I Member: 4-VA/JMU X-Labs
Welcome Back Individual Level Member: Sandra Quigg
Welcome Back Individual Level Member: Rick Williams
Shenandoah Valley Open Tech Jobs
Rocktown Tech Slack Channel Link
 
November 19, 2020 (Richmond, VA)Governor Ralph Northam today announced that Dynamic Aviation, a leading provider of special-mission aviation solutions for government and commercial organizations worldwide, will invest $47.9 million to expand its operation in Rockingham County. The company will establish a new 13,000-square-foot facility for office space and a composite shop, and a 33,000-square-foot hangar to house its legacy aircraft, including the first Air Force One. Virginia successfully competed against multiple states for the project, which will create 207 new jobs.

"Dynamic Aviation has achieved soaring success in Rockingham County over the last 50 years," said Governor Northam. "The Shenandoah Valley boasts a world-class roster of innovative companies that benefit from the infrastructure, high-caliber workforce, and outstanding quality of life that the region offers. We are confident that this expansion will launch a new chapter of growth for Dynamic Aviation and look forward to working together to ensure Virginia remains a hub for the aerospace industry."

Founded in 1967 and headquartered in Rockingham County, Dynamic Aviation delivers customized aerial assets and services to support a wide range of customers, including national defense, military intelligence, federal agencies, state and local governments, non-profit research organizations, and private companies. The company has the flexibility and resources to deliver world-class aviation solutions that combine mission-modified aircraft, experienced flight crews, and comprehensive maintenance services. Dynamic Aviation operates a 300,000-square-foot heavy maintenance and modifications center, engine shop, and privately owned airport at its headquarters in Bridgewater, Virginia. The company employs more than 750 aviation professionals, owns over 140 aircraft, and operates from 18 locations in 11 countries across five continents.

"Virginia-based Dynamic Aviation provides expertise and solutions to clients worldwide, and we are proud to support this major expansion," said Secretary of Commerce and Trade Brian Ball. "The company's history and continued growth in Rockingham County is a testament to the region's accessibility to global markets and reliable talent pipeline that has supported the operation for over 50 years. We thank Dynamic Aviation for its commitment to Virginia, and for creating more than 200 new jobs."

"Dynamic Aviation chose its Virginia location for the facility expansion and the creation of 207 new jobs because of the region's infrastructure, assets, and strategic location," said Michael Stoltzfus, President and CEO of Dynamic Aviation.

The Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP) worked with Rockingham County and the Shenandoah Valley Partnership to secure the project for Virginia and will support Dynamic Aviation's job creation through the Virginia Jobs Investment Program (VJIP), which provides consultative services and funding to companies creating new jobs in order to support employee recruitment and training activities. As a business incentive supporting economic development, VJIP reduces the human resource costs of new and expanding companies. VJIP is state-funded, demonstrating Virginia's commitment to enhancing job opportunities for citizens.


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December 4, 2020 | 8:00 am - 9:00 am

The Pre-Session Legislative Non-Breakfast is an opportunity to ask representatives questions about the upcoming legislative session.  This year's event will be virtual via Zoom.  


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February 6-27, 2021 (Saturdays) | 9 am - 12 noon
Memorial Hall, James Madison University

College for Kids provides an enriching, educational, and fun experience for children in grades 1st-8th. Children work with JMU faculty and students, as well as experts from the community, to explore and discover talents they never knew they had!

Winter 2021 College for Kids will take place on Saturdays from February 6th - 27th. This program will be held in person. Your child's safety is our greatest priority, therefore all children will be required to wear a mask, and we will be practicing guidelines in keeping with CDC recommendations. See safety protocol here.

Course options include, but not limited to: 
  • Learning to Be a Mad Scientist (1st - 4th Grades)Science is a whole world of curiosity.  In this class, we will learn all about the science that is in our world around us.  We will have fun getting to be hands-on and experimenting with science.
  • Lego Engineering (1st - 4th Grades) - This class is for young Lego enthusiasts who are ready to delve into the world of engineering and computer coding.   Each week, students will be presented with a different LEGO Engineering challenge designed to spark their creativity and put their technical problem solving skills to work.  Participants will also get to work in teams to build and program Lego robots using the We-Do Lego curriculum.
  • Instrument Construction Projects (6th - 8th Grades) Have you ever wanted to make your own musical instrument? Get your hands ready to create a rainstick, thunder tube, didgeridoo, and more! Learn how different materials create unique sounds. Construct musical projects to take home and perform. We will even add some technology to a lesson to see how computers and technology can make everyday objects become musically alive!

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Looking for a grant to help start up your FLL team? Each year, the Shenandoah Valley Technology Council sponsors up to three new FIRST LEGO League (FLL) teams from the Shenandoah Valley. Approximately half of the start-up cost of a new team is reimbursed, up to $350.

To be eligible, teams must be located in the footprint of the Shenandoah Valley Technology Council's area of operation. Applicants must also intend participate in the FLL competition within one year of receiving the grant. This grant can be used towards any equipment required for competition in FIRST LEGO League, including one or more LEGO robotics kits, a competition practice table, and an FLL field setup kit.

If you are interested in applying for the FLL Start-Up Grant, start on our FLL page and fill out, and send, the PDF linked on that page. Information and application for FLL Startup Grant

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About FIRST LEGO League (FLL), https://www.firstlegoleague.org
FLL was created through a partnership between FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) and the LEGO company and inspires future scientists and engineers. it is an international competition that challenges young participants to think like scientists and engineers. Every year FLL introduces kids to a real-world scientific topic, and teams are challenged to find a solution. They also build a robot and compete in a friendly, FIRST-style robotics event specially designed for their age group.

This year's challenge, called Replay: https://info.firstinspires.org/2021season/replay
 
FIRST LEGO League Challenge RePLAY - Season Launch Video
FIRST LEGO League Challenge RePLAY | Season Launch Video

  
About the local / Virginia league: Your state and local -Virginia and Shen. Valley- connection to FLL is VA-DC FLL (https://va-dcfll.org/), located in Harrisonburg. Virginia is one of the largest leagues in the world with over 600 teams. Start a conversation with Kaitlin and crew and see how you can get involved, right here in the Shen. Valley. (https://va-dcfll.org/who-we-are/)
 
Science and technology leaders are made, not born.

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Welcome Back Level I Member!
4-VA/JMU X-Labs

JMU X-Labs is a model of education specifically designed to teach innovation with intention. Its transdisciplinary programming challenges students to take ownership of their education, pivot creatively, and confidently tackles problems that resist easy solutions. The "X" in JMU X-Labs represents the variable of discipline-any and every major is welcome.

4-VA is a collaborative partnership between eight Virginia universities that is powered by 4 initiatives. Our mission is to promote collaborations that leverage the strengths of each partner university and improve efficiencies in higher education across the Commonwealth of Virginia. We carry out this mission by advocating unprecedented partnerships between faculty and departments to generate significant, innovative solutions to educational and real-world problems. Since 4-VA's inception, we've sponsored advancements in research, pilot courses, redesigned courses, shared courses, online programs, industry-focused adult degrees, new technologies, interventions, workshops, conferences and other programs.


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Welcome Back Individual Level Member!
Sandra Quigg

Sandra Quigg has been promoting positive social outcomes for most of her career, including her current position as Executive Director for the Boys & Girls Club. Previously, she was the Director of Organizational Sustainability at the social enterprise Friendship Industries (FI), and its affiliate Able Solutions (ASI). A University of Richmond graduate, Sandra has worked in not-for-profit and for-profit businesses undertaking everything from research, grant writing, project management, major gift fundraising, and sales. Her work at the Boys & Girls Club benefits the community by providing a safe, enriching and positive environment for the youth of Harrisonburg and Rockingham. She assists the mission by developing relationships with the many stakeholders invested in supporting the citizens of tomorrow.


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Welcome Back Individual Level Member!
Rick Williams

Rick Williams has spent almost three decades in senior management roles in the accounting and finance field serving mostly firms in the technology and government contracting space. He is planning on retiring to the Valley in the next few years and is looking to start and expand his network. Rick is interested in consulting, coaching and mentoring and maybe even some angel investing in the technology space.


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  • Assistant Director, 4-VA | Harrisonburg
  • Solder Technician, VIRTEX | Waynesboro
  • IT Operations Technician, Segra | Waynesboro
  • Systems Analyst/Developer, Augusta County Service Authority | Verona
GOT ADDITIONAL JOBS THAT SHOULD BE PUBLICIZED? SEND US A NOTE AND WE'LL PUBLICIZE THEM.
 
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Participate in the local tech conversation: Rocktown Tech (Slack)

Currently there are 18 channels and over 450 members. Sign-up

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