Breaking down walls between various levels of government can be daunting. But when the stakes are high, anything's possible.
        That was the attitude in Virginia Beach when the City Government, its public school division and the Commonwealth of Virginia confronted the challenge of preparing citizens for the next generation of jobs. Rather than compete, let's unite, they said, and create a joint center of excellence for training in high demand fields like high-performance manufacturing and engineering, information technology and telecommunications.
        The result is the Advanced Technology Center, now open in Virginia Beach's unique Princess Anne Commons Academic Village, which features elementary through higher education facilities. "At the ATC, we have high school and college students in the same building at the same time taking similar instruction in different classrooms," says Dr. Patrick Konopnicki, director of Technical and Career education for the Virginia Beach City Public Schools. Students can graduate with established Industry Certifications and even Associate College Degrees.
        "In attracting and retaining good businesses today, having qualified, motivated workers is the absolute key," says Don Maxwell, Director of the Department of Economic Development for the City of Virginia Beach. "The ATC is a major factor in maintaining a competitive work force."
        Initial course offerings include Computer Repair, CADD, Computer Network Administrator, Digital Design, E-Commerce, I-Net and the Oracle Internet Academy. The $23.5 -million structure also houses the Virginia Beach Workforce Training Center with computer desks, white board, projector and data drops and separate space for firms to bring in their own equipment for specialized business-driven training.
        The ATC is also at the heart of what makes Virginia Beach the Perfect MATCH for talented citizens and quality employers. "We are blessed with a wonderful quality of life centered around the Atlantic Ocean and Chesapeake Bay," says Maxwell. "But we are also fortunate to have thousands of honorably discharged servicemen and women, military retirees, spouses and college students in our community with more joining them each day. They offer employers a solid work ethic and strong technical skills."
        With 435,000 residents, Virginia Beach is Virginia's most populous city. With the Advanced Technology Center, it is truly one of the state's and nation's most progressive, too.