Vision for permanent Germanna Center in Stafford taking shape

What role should Germanna Community College play in Stafford County 20 or 30 years from now?

That’s the question GCC President David A. Sam asked a gathering of business, educational and political leaders from Stafford at a “visioning” session Monday at Riverside Conference Center.

“I like to say that ‘community is our middle name,’ “ Sam told the group. “We want and need your input.”

The group was interested in expanding GCC’s Dual Enrollment program, which makes it possible for students to earn associate’s degrees while in high school, and securing criminal justice/national security training that would support nearby Quantico and government agencies.

Stafford Director of Economic Development Tim Baroody said the county expects Germanna to play a role in the development of its own vision for the Courthouse area.

Germanna Community College Dean Denise Guest talked with community members as GCC held a Stafford County Visioning Session at the Riverside Conference Center Monday, Photos by (Robert A. Martin)

“Stafford County is working to build exciting opportunities in the Courthouse area,” he said.

He said the county’s vision is a complex of retail, restaurant and office capacity in a village concept that’s pedestrian friendly.

Baroody said “building a sense of place” is important to the county’s vision for the Stafford Courthouse area.

“Germanna would love to be one of the anchors,” Sam said.

He said the kind of workforce development Germanna provides “is critical to economic development.”

GCC Vice President Jeanne Wesley said Germanna will be able to provide expanded  offerings in training in health care, IT, industry and construction, national security skills such as cybersecurity and customized training at a larger facility near Stafford Courthouse.

“We’re very excited about a larger space in Stafford,” she said. “What we have now is a very small space.”

Germanna opened its existing Stafford County Center at Aquia in 2009 with support from the county Economic Development Authority. Enrollment immediately exceeded the 1,000 capacity of the four-classroom facility.

Virginia Del. Michael T. Futile (D-2nd) - foreground, right) - and Mark J. Safferstone, Ph.D., executive director of the University of Mary Washington's Stafford and Dahlgren campuses, look over the list of suggestions make by attendees at a Germanna Community College Visioning Session at the Riverside Conference Center in Stafford County.

GCC is working with the county toward opening a much larger, permanent center near Stafford Courthouse. The Germanna Educational Foundation is seeking private donations to help make that possible.

Sam said the new center in Stafford may look different than most campuses do today, with more labs and fewer classrooms and more emphasis on hybrid classes that combine online and face to face learning, but with greater emphasis on creating the type of sense of place of which Baroody spoke.

Deborah Brock, Germanna’s executive director of organizational planning and assessment, said Stafford can expect a 144 percent increase in population by 2040, with the number of young people of traditional school age doubling.

She said 36 percent of Stafford residents currently have bachelor’s degrees and that’s higher than the national rate of 29 percent. Still, she said, developing technology will create growing demand from county employers for workers with college degrees and credentials.

Dr. Jeanne Wesley , Germanna vice president, for workforce development, reviews suggestions made Monday at the cpllege's Stafford Visioning Session at the Riverside Conference Center.

She said demand for workers in the health care professions and support fields will grow, as will demand for skilled workers in construction and supporting trades. At the same time, she said, the nature of the federal government as an employer will be shifting if it continues to downsize. It’s currently the biggest employer for county residents.

Participants in Germanna’s Stafford Visioning Session included:

Bruce Davis – Former Germanna College Board and Educational Foundation Board Member

Dana Reinboldt – Stafford County School Board, Griffis-Widewater District

Kathy Baker – Stafford County Planning and Zoning

Jack Rowley – Germanna Educational Foundation Board

Bruce Benson – Stafford County School Superintendent

Michael Adams – JON Properties, LLC

Joseph Neubert – Stafford Ruritan Club Member

Meg Bohmke – Stafford County Board of Supervisors, Falmouth District

Marie Frederick – Community member

Mark Safferstone – UMW, executive director – Stafford and Dahlgren Campuses

Jim Brown – Community member

Tim Baroody – Stafford County, deputy county administrator

Jack Cavalier – Stafford County Board of Supervisors

Michael Futrell – House of Delegates, District 2