RT Park Adds Five New Companies, Expands Youth STEM and Workforce Development Programs

The University of the Virgin Islands Research and Technology Park has added five new companies so far this fiscal year and is expanding its workforce development and youth STEM education programs, Executive Director Eric Sonnier told lawmakers Monday during a Senate hearing.

Testifying before the Economic Development and Agriculture Committee, Sonnier said the RT Park now has 70 active clients — 50 on St. Thomas, 16 on St. Croix, and four on St. John — working in sectors such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and defense contracting.

The RT Park operates independently of the central government and is funded through fees collected from participating companies, which receive tax incentives in exchange. Those funds support the University of the Virgin Islands and help finance educational and workforce initiatives throughout the territory.

“Every initiative we’ve launched, from youth STEM programming to workforce preparedness, is part of a larger interconnected system designed to grow our talent, diversify our economy, and position the Virgin Islands as a competitive hub for knowledge-based initiatives,” Sonnier said.

A number of those initiatives fall under the park’s recently launched Community Advancement Department, which he said is already having an impact.

One program, the 12-week Professional Pathways Program, is geared toward college underclassmen and includes resume writing, mock interviews, and soft skills development. Participants are matched with RT Park clients for paid internships to gain hands-on experience.