The "Be Pro Proud" mobile unit, which will travel the state and visit companies, schools and events to showcase skilled trade professions.
The Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce and the Associated Industries of Arkansas announced Tuesday its acceptance of a $50,000 investment from the Gene Haas Foundation and a $30,000 investment from Tyson Foods Inc.
The investments will help fund the Arkansas State Chamber’s Be Pro Be Proud workforce initiative, which showcases to Arkansas students the many career opportunities available within technical professions.
“We’re incredibly grateful to both the Gene Haas Foundation and Tyson Foods, Inc., for helping us continue to educate students on the opportunities that lie within technical professions and encourage further career and technical education in Arkansas schools,” Randy Zook, president and CEO of the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce, said in a news release. “It’s an honor to have our diligent research and subsequent workforce initiative be validated by such industry leaders.”
Through a traveling, engaging Be Pro Workshop, the Be Pro Be Proud Initiative has conducted several launch events across the state, visited multiple high schools and appeared at numerous industry events and festivals since its debut in March.
The website serves as a hub for students, parents, teachers and the general public to learn more and find training and job opportunities.
“It is critical that we all become more serious about advocating for skilled trade professions and educating students about the rewarding career opportunities they offer,” said Michael Garner, general manager of the Haas Factory Outlet in Little Rock.
Investments, such as those provided by the Gene Haas Foundation and Tyson Foods, are intended to fund strong technical programs that teach the skills needed for our economy to grow and expand. To date, Be Pro Be Proud has received more than $1 million in public and private investment, bringing the Chamber’s Foundation halfway towards its funding goal.
Nationwide, there are an estimated 5.8 million job openings, with approximately 60,000 of these openings in Arkansas. The majority of these are in high skilled technical fields, and this gap in the state’s employment can be directly attributed to a lack of knowledge, interest and preparation, according to the Arkansas State Chamber of Commerce.
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