Having recently obtained
501(c)3 status as a nonprofit organization, Build Smart's
mission remains steadfast: to connect people who want to build a better future with the skills employers need. The new Montvale facility will bring training in welding, industrial maintenance, and HVACR (heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration). These skills support construction, manufacturing, building operations, and the maintenance of equipment that keeps businesses running.
The expansion will help reach more residents in western Bedford County and surrounding communities. For high school students, adults changing careers, and workers seeking advancement, practical training closer to home can make pursuing a new opportunity more manageable.
GO Virginia Region 2’s 2025 Growth and Diversification Plan reports approximately 289 average annual openings for welders, cutters, solderers, and brazers, and 227 for industrial machinery mechanics. The plan identifies both occupational groups as lacking enough annual graduates from training programs and lists HVAC among needed manufacturing skills.
These figures cover the broader Region 2 area, including Bedford, Botetourt, Franklin, Roanoke, and surrounding localities. Build Smart’s expansion responds to the need for this additional training capacity.
Our developing partnership with Bedford County Public Schools will help address current waitlists in career and technical education programs. Students will have access to Build Smart’s instructors, equipment, and training spaces, allowing more students to pursue hands-on trades training without the school division needing to invest in infrastructure to upgrade its own facilities.
Shared resources mean greater capacity, more opportunities for students, and responsible use of community investments.
Additionally, our
collaboration with Ferrum College also connects eligible training with opportunities to earn college credit, helping students continue their education as their goals develop.
The Montvale School Preservation Foundation’s work to save the historic former Montvale High School helped make its next chapter possible. Its members and supporters advocated for its preservation to ensure its legacy as a thriving community-centered site would again be realized.
Working alongside the Foundation and Bedford County, Build Smart will help return the building to an educational purpose and carry its legacy forward. The expansion demonstrates what communities can accomplish when local government, public schools, preservation advocates, employers, and training providers work toward a shared goal.
Build Smart's designation as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization creates additional opportunities for charitable support, grants, and partnerships to expand training and address affordability.
In 2026, Build Smart reported more than 240 training enrollments, more than 270 credentials and certificates earned, and tuition assistance reaching 94% of students. These results demonstrate our impact and the importance of continued support.
Employers, donors, and community organizations can contribute through financial support and student sponsorships. Together, we can give this historic school a lasting educational future while helping more people gain the skills to build their own.
To learn more about supporting the Montvale expansion, contact Build Smart Institute today.
