FAIRMONT, W.Va. (WVDN) – Governor Patrick Morrisey announced $9 million in new federal funding over five years to expand college and career preparation opportunities for 3,600 West Virginia students annually across 20 counties.
“We’re bringing new jobs and investment into West Virginia at a historic pace, and we need to make sure our young people are prepared to take advantage of those opportunities,” said Governor Morrisey. “This investment will open doors for thousands of students who haven’t had access to these services before, helping them build successful careers and futures right here in West Virginia.”
Funding through the U.S. Department of Education’s Talent Search Program will establish Advancing College Education in West Virginia (ACE WV), led by the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission and six partner universities.
The initiative will bring services to previously unserved communities, providing students beginning in sixth grade with tutoring, academic advising, college preparation, financial aid assistance and guidance on apprenticeships and workforce training. In Marion County alone, 390 students across 10 middle and high schools are slated to participate.
Students will also have access to ACE Wallets, digital records designed to document academic achievements, skills and credentials as they progress through school and prepare for higher education or employment.
“West Virginia has some of the hardest-working and most talented people in America, and we’re creating new opportunities for them to succeed,” Governor Morrisey said. “I want our kids to have every opportunity to earn a great living without having to leave the state they call home. That’s how we strengthen our workforce, make life more affordable and build a stronger West Virginia.”
The initiative builds on Governor Morrisey’s efforts to expand workforce education and credentialing as West Virginia prepares for more than 19,000 projected jobs associated with approximately $96 billion in announced private-sector investment since October 2025.
