Dear Hampton University Community:
Last Friday, Hampton University hosted the United States Secretary of Education, Betsy DeVos, and Assistant Secretary Scott Stump on our campus for a Workforce Development Roundtable. During the session, the Secretary announced $17.7 million in funding from the Department of Education to support Hampton’s Virginia Workforce Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (VWIEC) grant proposal.
This grant is funded by the CARES Act, which was passed by Congress and signed by the President. In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the CARES Act generated funding for a plethora of strategies and programs, including stipend support for students. The segment of funding allocated for the workforce development grant competition was designed to offer support to businesses and unemployed workers impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Only eight grants were awarded and of those, only two were awarded to universities. The winners of the competition are listed below:
| Name | Amount |
|---|---|
| Hampton University | 17,735,349.43 |
| University of Hawaii | 13,370,383.58 |
| Arkansas Division of Workforce Services | 13,579,455.83 |
| Nevada Governor’s Office of Workforce Innovation | 13,818,298.92 |
| California Department of Employment Development | 14,440,118.56 |
| Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity | 17,827,178.11 |
| Alabama Department of Commerce | 17,827,178.11 |
| New York State Department of Labor | 18,067,845.02 |
Hampton University’s principal investigator for this winning proposal was Dr. Kermit Crawford and the co-principal investigator was Dr. Glenda Evans. I want to thank them and the committee for their hard work and establishing partnerships with the Virginia Board of Workforce Development and Old Dominion University. The objective of this project is to establish a statewide small business incubator project to assist aspiring entrepreneurs who are displaced, unemployed or whose jobs are no longer necessary due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The project will promote business development and innovation as pathways to economic recovery during the pandemic.
The University has received congratulatory notes and comments from all over the country. In our toxic political environment, we were especially pleased to receive positive comments from Virginia Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine. To underscore the value and demonstrate the importance of Hampton University winning this highly competitive grant, the senators issued a statement saying,
“We’re pleased that these federal dollars will assist Hampton University in continuing to serve their students in the face of the current health and economic crises. Historically Black Colleges and Universities help provide a first-rate education for so many students from traditionally underserved communities. We will continue to advocate for them as they support their students during this ongoing crisis.”
This was truly remarkable work on the part of Dr. Crawford, Dr. Evans and the committee who collaborated to bring these services to the Commonwealth of Virginia.
In the midst of these unprecedented times, the University is doing all it can to garner funding and support for programs that will make a difference in the lives of members of the Hampton family and the community that we serve. Thanks to all who truly support our great University and our efforts to keep Hampton University as THE STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE.
With all good wishes,
/s/ William R. Harvey
President
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