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Featured | NewsNovember 14, 2024

ϲ Receives $4 Million Workforce Development Grant

The ϲ has received a $4 million grant to support workforce development efforts.

The grant was part of $48 million in training grants announced Thursday by Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Secretary of Commerce Hugh McDonald, Chief Workforce Officer Mike Rogers, and Arkansas Workforce Connections Director Cody Waits. The grants support workforce development efforts aligned with the Arkansas Workforce Strategy.

The grants were awarded as part of the Higher Industry Readiness through Educational Development (HIRED) program, established by the Workforce Initiative Act of 2015.

“The best thing about the HIRED program is that it’s a collaboration of the public and private sector working in tandem to build a workforce to support Arkansas’ fastest-growing industries,” said Sanders. “The $48 million we’re announcing through the HIRED grant program will help provide a solution to Arkansas’ business leaders who are seeking more qualified, skilled, hardworking employees to grow their companies.”

Dr. Terisa Riley, ϲ chancellor, announced the grant saying, “Receiving the HIRED grant is a tremendous honor and a confirmation of the state’s commitment to meeting the workforce needs of our community. At ϲ, we have always taken pride in aligning our programs with the needs of our students and our region. This grant allows us to expand our work in advanced manufacturing, equipping more Arkansans with high-demand skills that will lead to well-paying jobs right here in the River Valley.”

She added, “Creating a complete pathway to higher education is a legacy at ϲ, and I am especially thrilled that this grant will fund not only our exceptional undergraduate programs but also our efforts to educate high school students at the PEAK Innovation Center and to upskill working professionals at the Center for Economic Development. I am so grateful to Governor Sanders for her emphasis on advanced manufacturing and regional development in the newly adopted state workforce plan.”

Dr. Latisha Settlage, dean of the College of Business and Industry at ϲ, seconded the chancellor’s emphasis on manufacturing.

“This award represents a critical investment in our region's future by supporting ϲ's efforts to expand educational pathways in advanced manufacturing," she said. "Our community and industry partners have been invaluable to this initiative, providing insights into the evolving skill demands of the manufacturing sector, opening their facilities for hands-on learning, and committing to hire our graduates.

“We have been working in lockstep with these partners, 22 of whom wrote letters of support for this grant. Their commitment ensures that we are not only addressing current workforce needs but also positioning the River Valley as a leader in cutting-edge manufacturing capabilities. Together, we are building a stronger, more resilient local economy, empowering our students with skills that will serve them – and our region – well into the future," she said.

In total, $88 million is available through the HIRED Grant program’s two tracks, which are separately administered through the Arkansas Department of Commerce and the Arkansas Division of Higher Education.

“Workforce development is a key priority for Governor Sanders and the Department of Commerce, and the HIRED grants will have a major impact on preparing the next generation of Arkansans for the workforce,” said McDonald. “These grants represent an industry-driven approach to workforce development and will impact Arkansans and companies in every corner of our state. Our public sector – including the Department of Commerce, Arkansas Department of Education, Arkansas Department of Higher Education, the Office of Skills Development, and the Chief Workforce Officer – have partnered and collaborated with the private sector and our educational institutions throughout this process, and we look forward to the positive results that the programs supported through the HIRED Grant Program will have in Arkansas, which will be measurable by the employment outcomes of these partnerships.”
 
Nineteen organizations in Arkansas received $48 million in grants in the Track 2 portion of the HIRED grants program, administered by the Arkansas Department of Commerce and Arkansas Workforce Connections.
 
“Apprenticeships, trade schools and the college system are vital in building Arkansas's workforce,”  Rogers said. “This round of investments is intended to target competencies that key industry sectors have asked for. We're relying on companies to guide and validate that they are able to hire skilled workers. “
 
The HIRED grants are intended to provide funding for state and regional industry-driven partnerships and data-driven education and workforce training programs. Funding for the grants comes from Arkansas Workforce Initiative grant funding and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.
 
"The HIRED grants demonstrate Arkansas' commitment to investing in its workforce and economic future," said Arkansas Workforce Connections’ Waits. "We're thrilled to offer this level of support, not just to these education and training providers, but also to employers across the state as they equip Arkansans with the skills needed to meet evolving industry demands."
 
Below is the full list of grant recipients:

  • Little Rock, Apprenticely, $2 million        
  • Fort Smith, Arkansas Colleges of Health Education, $3 million          
  • Little Rock, Arkansas Construction Education Foundation, $1 million.          
  • Jonesboro (primary), Newport, Arkansas State University-Newport, $250,000        
  • Malvern, Arkansas State University Three Rivers, $2.8 million  
  • Little Rock, The Venture Center, $500,000                       
  • Searcy, Harding University Digital Forensics Lab, $1.5 million 
  • Little Rock, Little Rock Regional Chamber, $500,000     
  • Hot Springs, National Park College No. 2, $6 million        
  • Springdale, NWTI Education Foundation, $4 million               
  • Arkadelphia, Ouachita Baptist University No. 1, $437,500            
  • Helena-West Helena, Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas, $249,000                        
  • El Dorado, South Arkansas College, $325,000     
  • Batesville, UAAC Batesville, $5 million               
  • North Little Rock, UA Pulaski Technical College No. 2, $2 million                     
  • Walnut Ridge, Williams Baptist, $1.9 million        
  • Jonesboro, Blytheville, Newport, Arkansas State University-Jonesboro (ANC, ASUN), $7.5 million    
  • Camden, Southern Arkansas University Tech, $5 million                    
  • Western Arkansas, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith, $4 million

 

Media Relations

The ϲ Office of Communications fields all media inquiries for the university. Email Rachel.Putman@uafs.edu for more information.

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Rachel Rodemann Putman

  • Director of Strategic Communications
  • 479-788-7132
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