Community celebrates opening of new EO Regional Workforce and Child Development Hub
Having played a pivotal role on the project team, Thompson & Litton (T&L) was pleased to attend the recent ribbon cutting held in October celebrating the official opening of the new EO Companies (EO) Regional Workforce and Child Development Hub in Abingdon, Virginia.
On Saturday, Nov. 2 the public was invited to the new facility for an Open House, and all were very excited about the opportunities it will bring. EO is a newly launched Virginia-based 501c3 non-profit organization with a mission to research, pilot, and scale innovative solutions aimed at amplifying economic opportunities among Virginia’s most challenged communities. EO repurposed an existing structure that housed a large retail store (Kmart) located just north of Interstate 81 off Exit 17. The big-box facility was renovated to create critical infrastructure to address workforce development, attraction, and retention challenges essential to Southwest Virginia’s economic prosperity. The Hub expands access to education by providing onsite high-quality child care for 300 children, sustains a network of 200+ childcare operators by offering back-office services and supports, and delivers career exploration and hands-on learning to 30,000 K-12 students annually in partnership with area employers.
EO enlisted the help of BurWil Construction and T&L through a design build process, to redevelop the 85,000 plus square-foot facility in efforts to catalyze the attraction of new employers to the region and aid in retaining current workers by making employment in the labor force a feasible choice for families. T&L assisted with design development, construction documents, and construction contract administration for the project which became the gateway for developing responsive design and construction of the new facility. The Hub is expected to create 100 new jobs, enable area employers and businesses to grow and operate at their fullest potential, and help to ensure that residents do not have to leave the region for a good job with a livable wage.