Microsoft invests in local programs that benefit people of all ages. In Southern Virginia, our collaborations are organized by our focus areas of Skills for Jobs, Enabling Sustainability, and Empowering Communities.
The following program list contains a sample of the investments Microsoft makes on an annual basis.
Skills for jobs
Microsoft believes everyone should have access to the skills, technology, and opportunity they need to succeed in a changing economy.
Great Aspirations Scholarship Program (GRASP) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit, charitable, college-access organization that assists students and families in obtaining funding for post-secondary education. The overall purpose of GRASP is to ensure that every student has an equal opportunity for continuing education after high school, regardless of financial or social circumstances. Quality education for all is imperative, and GRASP helps all students achieve their educational and career goals toward brighter futures.
- GRASP Counselor Support – SoVA includes In-School Advising and Last Dollar Scholarships. In-School Advising fills a specific need in a high school by educating students about how to fund post-secondary education and providing hands-on help to follow through with the required applications. In-school advisors work within high school counseling departments where they are welcomed for their particular expertise in post-secondary financial aid. Last Dollar Scholarships helps to cover expenses for books, technology needs, and other costs that are frequently not covered by the financial aid package and would otherwise prevent some students from attending the institution of their choice. GRASP awards at least one Last Dollar Scholarship per high school it serves.
Mecklenburg County Business-Education Partnership is committed to a quality education for the children of Mecklenburg County by sharing resources and developing relationships that benefit students.
- CTE-Work Based Learning Food Trailer purchased a mobile classroom food trailer for the Career & Technical Education programs. The food trailer provides opportunities to enrich classroom learning and complete required work-based learning activities and experiences; cross curriculum training opportunities for students so that they can collaborate with students within multiple classes to provide goods and services; learning opportunities that align with the Virginia Department of Education required course competencies within Career & Technical Education courses; and relevant, up-to-date, hands-on training for students. The food trailer purchase expands the work based learning experiences for students in several classes, and provides students with the necessary training to fill needed positions within the local workforce.
Southside Virginia Community College Foundation was established in 1980 as a not-for profit organization under Virginia law. Its purpose is to foster and promote the growth, progress, and general welfare of the Southside Virginia Community College and the Virginia College System.
- Critical Environments Training Lab project built out a new critical environments training space to house training programs for adult and dual enrollment students in the technical fields of electrical, mechanical, HVAC, and robotics skilling. The current space was not adequate to train the explosive growth in this program. The project expanded the classroom space, remodeled the floorplan, and purchased necessary equipment for the Critical Environments Technician certification and degree programs.
- Scholarships & BISCI Lab project provided scholarships that assist students with tuition, books, and certification testing fees. Additionally, it outfitted a new BICSI Authorized Training Facility lab with required tools. The BICSI Authorized Training Facility Program provides installers with increased assess to training in the proper methods of installing data, voice, and video cabling within the confines of a commercial building structure.
SOVA Innovation Hub is a place to LEARN, WORK, and GROW. It is a regional destination for coworking and collaboration. It is creating opportunities to learn new skills and discover new career pathways.
- gener8tor Skills Accelerator supports learners in obtaining high-quality employment in diverse, professional workplaces where the skills they gain from the accelerator can be applied. In alignment with Microsoft, gener8tor Skills focuses on building technical skills to help under- and unemployed individuals who fall under the category of hidden talent such as people of color, women, veterans, and others. The accelerator helps them secure meaningful employment across a variety of sectors (such as technology, insurance, finance, and professional services) in professional, technical, and administrative services roles. The accelerator increases access to technology and supports local employers in their hiring needs as well as their ability to adapt to digital transformation as learners are prepared for digitally-enabled jobs at these companies.
Empowering communities
Microsoft is committed to strengthening communities and empowering the organizations that help them thrive. Whether affected by a recent emergency or decades of challenges, we use data, technology, and strategic investments to restore and support them for future generations.
ChangeX International helps to create thriving communities everywhere by democratizing change, ensuring proven innovations and finance are accessible to everyone, everywhere. ChangeX is a community engagement platform that, with Microsoft’s support, has funded more than 500 groups in communities across Europe and the United States since 2015. Funds are repeated often throughout the years.
- ChangeX Boydton is a community fund program across the Southern Virginia area. These programs are locally developed and delivered by citizens in the area.
Clarksville Community Players have been entertaining Clarksville and the surrounding area since 1973. Its mission is to bring the fine arts to Clarksville.
- Theatre Stage Lighting replaced existing lighting with new LED lighting at the stage and control booth for performances in the Clarksville Fine Arts Center in Clarksville, Virginia. This provided cooler lighting and an even stage lighting for visual appearance. The existing on stage drop down projection screen was also replaced.
Lake Country Area Agency on Aging serves as an advocate for persons 60 years and older by helping them to achieve a better quality of life. It works to secure and maintain independence and dignity in a home environment for older individuals who are capable of self care with the appropriate supportive services; to remove individual and social barriers to economic and personal independence for older individuals; and to provide a continuum of care to the vulnerable elderly, serving those older individuals most at risk of institutionalization.
- LCAAA Private WiFi project refreshed the agency’s network with support plus tech refresh to accommodate the entire organization to be able to fully utilize the network.
Mecklenburg County Business – Education Partnership is committed to a quality education for the children of Mecklenburg County by sharing resources and developing relationships that benefit students.
- Greenhouses for Mecklenburg Public School to support the tree-planting effort and other public school agricultural and CTE programs and initiatives. The Chase City Conservancy tree planting program partnered with MCPS and the Virginia Department of Forestry (VDOF) to develop the K-12 tree and seedling education program and curriculum.
- Transporation Trailer for Better Block Shipping Container purchased a gooseneck 20′ tilt bed trailer with winch and lift to easily move the Better Block program kit throughout Southside Virginia.
SOVA Innovation Hub is a place to LEARN, WORK, and GROW. It is a regional destination for coworking and collaboration. It is creating opportunities to learn new skills and discover new career pathways.
- Halifax Downtown Wifi project brought a public WiFi network to the town of Halifax. With Halifax being the county seat for Halifax County, a large number of residents converge on the town during traditional business hours. Coupled with the number of events held throughout the year, the need for a public WiFi network becomes even more apparent.
- Virginia Stormwater Filtration installed Gutter bin stormwater filters from Frog Creek Partners in the communites of the TechSpark region of Southern Virginia for the purpose of protecting and restoring the Dan River, Roanoke River, and John H. Kerr Reservoir. The respective communities own and maintain the stormwater filters.
Tech Impact works to change lives, organizations, and the world.
Digital Transformation Initiative – Cohort (Boydton) provides education to each cohort to provide benefits of the Microsoft Cloud in relation to the organizations’ productivity and security goals and align digital transformation to the mission and impact goals of each organization. The education can be delivered through in-person workshops or online webinars and followed up with on-demand session recordings. Select cohort participants have the opportunity to participate in TechCheck consultations with Tech Impact. The TechCheck will assess the organization’s current technology, security, and governance and produce recommendations to close any gaps that the assessment exposes. Recommendations will include projects with associated budget.