March 24, 2026
On Monday, March 23, NILIT of Martinsville celebrated the launch of its Apprenticeship program with a signing ceremony at Patrick & Henry Community College’s (P&HCC) Manufacturing, Engineering & Technology (MET) Complex. Three P&HCC students officially signed on as the first apprentices in the program, which was supported by the Expanding Talent through Registered Apprenticeship (ExTRA) program led by the Institute for Advanced Learning and Research (IALR).
This apprenticeship program provides local students with the opportunity to work in local industry while gaining hands-on experience and developing their skills for successful careers in high-demand fields.
“We could not be more thrilled to sign our first three apprenticeships today. We believe this is a partnership that will pay dividends for our students, our companies, and our community at large,” said P&HCC president Dr. Greg Hodges.
Representatives from NILIT, Martinsville Henry County Chamber of Commerce, Minority Business Consortium, and Virginia Career Works joined P&HCC staff in celebrating the commitments of Cole Burgess, Laura Sutphin, and Jacob Wynn as they begin their path as journeymen.
“We knew we were in a deficit finding the talent we needed. These students have completed their internships without interfering with school and now we are so pleased to hire them as apprentices,” said NILIT human resources manager Bryan Spivey.
The apprenticeship program was developed with support from the Expanding Talent through Registered Apprenticeship (ExTRA) initiative, which is designed by IALR to help employers across Southern Virginia create and implement state-registered apprenticeship programs. Apprenticeships provide on-the-job training, related technical instruction (which is classroom instruction) and paid employment. As the “pinnacle” of work-based learning, registered apprenticeships equip participants with the skills needed to succeed in high-demand industries.
IALR’s ExTRA program is increasing apprenticeship opportunities across multiple sectors, initially focusing on construction, healthcare, early childhood education, manufacturing and information technology. Since 2022, ExTRA has helped register 170 apprentices and has established 45 apprenticeship programs with 26 different employers. With many more programs in development, ExTRA continues to expand its impact in the region.
“This apprenticeship program is part of a larger effort to provide young people with opportunities to gain valuable skills while addressing workforce needs in key industries,” said Natori Neal, Apprenticeship Coordinator at IALR. “By helping employers implement these programs, we ensure that students not only receive high-quality training but are also able to contribute to the local economy as skilled workers.”
Businesses that are interested in learning about apprenticeships can visit the ExTRA website and contact Natori Neal.
About IALR
The Institute for Advanced Learning and Research serves Virginia as a regional catalyst for economic transformation with applied research, advanced learning, manufacturing advancement, conference center services and economic development efforts. IALR’s major footprint focuses within Southern Virginia, including the counties of Patrick, Henry, Franklin, Pittsylvania, Halifax and Mecklenburg along with the cities of Martinsville and Danville.
About NILIT
NILIT specializes in processing nylon from polymerization to extrusion and spinning. Since 2009, NILIT has been producing POY, FOY, and LOY-DT nylon 6.6 yarns in Martinsville.
In the photo: Representatives from NILIT, VA Career Works, IALR, and P&HCC celebrate the apprenticeship commitments of (seated L to R) Jacob Wynn, Laura Sutphin, and Cole Burgess.