Reynolds Creates Pathways to High-Demand Careers Across the Region

Reynolds Community College is earning regional recognition for its leadership in workforce development and economic mobility. In a recent article published in Richmond Magazine, titled “Working Together: How the region’s two-year colleges elevate job training, RVA’s economy,” Reynolds is featured as a driving force behind Central Virginia’s efforts to prepare students for high-demand careers.

While four-year institutions often capture headlines, the article underscores the growing impact of two-year colleges like Reynolds in strengthening the region’s workforce pipeline. Enrollment at Reynolds has steadily increased since the COVID-19 pandemic, with more students pursuing workforce-focused degrees and industry-recognized credentials. Much of that growth is fueled by Virginia’s G3 and FastForward initiatives, which provide tuition assistance for students training in high-demand fields such as health care, skilled trades, advanced manufacturing, information technology and construction.

Through FastForward’s innovative pay-for-performance model, the state covers two-thirds of tuition costs for students who complete and earn credentials in approved programs. The result: increased access to career training and stronger alignment between education and Virginia’s economic priorities.

Reynolds has built on this momentum with significant investments in health care education. Long recognized for its strong nursing program, the college expanded its medical career offerings after receiving $924,000 in federal funding in 2024 to modernize laboratory spaces, purchase new equipment and boost enrollment in high-demand health programs. In December, Reynolds celebrated the graduation of its first cohort of surgical technology students — a milestone that reflects the college’s expanding footprint in health sciences.

Partnerships remain central to Reynolds’ success. The college maintains a strong collaboration with VCU Health, including the clinical medical assistant FastForward program offered through the Community College Workforce Alliance (CCWA), a partnership between Reynolds and Brightpoint Community College. According to the article, approximately 200 FastForward students have secured full-time positions at VCU Health, with many participants coming from low-income households. For single parents and working adults, these programs offer a direct pathway to stable, family-sustaining careers.

Reynolds is also strengthening career pathways in the skilled trades. Recent enhancements include a new welding lab and 12 new automotive bays at the Parham Road Campus. These upgrades support the engineering technician program and expand partnerships with local auto dealerships and industry employers, ensuring students gain hands-on experience aligned with real workforce needs.

Regional leaders note that Virginia currently has more job openings than job seekers — roughly 255,000 open positions statewide. In this environment, Reynolds and its community college partners are helping close the gap by preparing credentialed graduates who are ready to enter the workforce immediately or continue seamlessly to four-year institutions.

The article also highlights the growing alignment between two-year and four-year colleges to improve student outcomes and meet employer demand. Community colleges often serve as the access point to higher education and career advancement, particularly for students seeking affordable, flexible options. By focusing on credentials tied directly to in-demand industries, Reynolds is helping increase economic mobility across the region.

As the Richmond Magazine feature makes clear, Reynolds Community College is not only responding to workforce needs — it is helping shape the future of Central Virginia’s economy. Through strategic partnerships, state-supported tuition initiatives and continued investment in facilities and programs, Reynolds is creating clear pathways from the classroom to meaningful careers.

For students, families and employers alike, the message is clear: Reynolds is working together with regional partners to deliver opportunity, strengthen industries and power the workforce of tomorrow.

Read the full Richmond Magazine article.