The Town of Bedford Economic Development Authority (EDA) is seeking non-professional consultant services to develop a master plan for a proposed "Regional Metal Workforce Retention Center", which would be located in a 60,000 square foot former foundry at 1 Abrasive Avenue. Funding is provided by a GO Virginia grant to help determine how to specifically establish a regional workforce training center for metal fabrication consisting of both private and public partners. Central Virginia Community College has expressed interest in combining their metal working career and technical education (CTE) programs (among others) and the end-user industrial businesses that need a trained metal workforce with skills specific to their application. The plan will serve as the basis to bring in end users, to outline operations for the EDA as the owner, and will be used to seek further funding for implementation of findings. Project Background The Town of Bedford Economic Development Authority (EDA) purchased a 60,000 square-foot former steel shot foundry on 16 acres that is located 1/10th mile from U.S. Route 460 within the Town of Bedford. The facility is a 1970s-era factory providing a unique combination of laboratory, office, warehouse, three 40-foot high-bay areas, and a Norfolk-Southern rail spur with weigh scale. The facility consists of multiple interconnected sections built using modern steel construction having reinforced concrete floors and bridge crane rails capable of supporting up to 35 tons. This facility was designed with large open spaces with elevated ceilings needed for safe operation of a wide variety of industrial processes. The complex was constructed for foundry purposes making it uniquely suited for full-sized mockup fabrication training, the support of large dynamic machinery and nearly every metal fabrication process including casting. The EDA proposes to repurpose this facility into a Central and Southwest Virginia regional workforce development center (RWDC) focused on metal fabrication skills training with metal firms having space on site. With its central geographic location in the midpoint of Bedford County, the facility can serve both Roanoke and Lynchburg regions within a 35-minute drive time with long-term potential for daily rail-based commuters. Questions with regard to submissions, process, or proposals can be emailed to: Mary Zirkle, Director of Planning and Community Development mzirkle@bedfordva.gov.
The deadline for written questions is September 6, 2024 at 3:00 PM. Please direct written questions to Mary Zirkle by email at mzirkle@bedfordva.gov. This grant award has an end date of June 30, 2025. All work must be completed prior to that date in order for the Town to close the project out to receive payment.
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