BECKLEY, W.Va. – A ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday marked the opening of the future home of PATTERN, a new training and manufacturing facility that promises to accelerate the textile industry in the region.
The center stands for Planning and Accelerating Textile Technology and Entrepreneurship Regional Network and aims to give students hands-on skills while connecting them to local textile manufacturing opportunities.
The 192-hour accredited training program will focus on industrial sewing, and its graduates will receive certificates that open doors to career opportunities in textile manufacturing.
The center also encourages entrepreneurship, offering students the chance to brainstorm, design, and create new textile products.
Though the center is still months away from opening in Spring 2025, its potential to revitalize the area is already making waves.
Jina Belcher, Executive Director of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority, spoke about the region’s growing need for skilled workers:
“This is really a skill set that we have seen a need for. With the uptick in visitation and also gear manufacturing as it relates to the National Park and preserve. So, we’re really hoping to keep folks here, train them here, get them a job here, and then in the future when you see our life cycle board, we really want to partner with our local education partners with WVU Tech and our community and technical colleges to have accreditation and articulation into those larger manufacturing programs that they offer.”
The facility will play a key role in reviving the textile industry, with a special focus on manufacturing high-quality gear and apparel for the booming outdoor economy surrounding the New River Gorge National Park. Local businesses can expect products that align with the sustainable and adventurous spirit of the region.
West Virginia U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito also weighed in on the collaborative effort to bring PATTERN to life, emphasizing the importance of community partnerships:
“We realize it’s not one entity can do this alone. The development authority can’t do this by itself. The federal, you know the federal tax dollars are good incentives to do some of the gut work and infrastructure work, but you’ve got to work with your community college. You got to work with WVU Tech. You’ve got to work with the retailers and the people that actually sell this.”
PATTERN’s ambitious goals highlight the potential for local economic growth and the reinvention of the textile industry in West Virginia, with an emphasis on sustainability and innovation.
By training a new generation of skilled workers and fostering entrepreneurial spirit, the project is set to lay the foundation for the future of manufacturing in the region.
Copyright 2024 WVVA. All rights reserved.