Blue Ridge CTC has officially opened its new welding lab, expanding opportunities for students to gain hands-on training in one of the region’s most in-demand trades.

The upgraded facility features modern equipment and additional workspace, allowing the college to train more students while better preparing them for careers in manufacturing, construction, and other skilled trades. College leaders and community partners highlighted the investment as an important step in strengthening the local workforce and meeting the growing demand for qualified welders in the Eastern Panhandle.