An ABB office building in Krakow, Poland
Global electrification and automation firm ABB announced that it’s investing $1 million in the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith to help the school become one of the nation’s leading advanced manufacturing educational institutions.
The initiative will focus primarily on postsecondary education with a curriculum designed by UAFS for roles in advanced manufacturing, engineering, automation, design process, and technology for manufacturing, the company said in a news release.
“Our goal is to create a talented, knowledgeable workforce that has the advanced skill sets required for the jobs of today, and more importantly, the jobs of tomorrow,” Terisa Riley, UAFS chancellor, said in the release. “Achieving our goals naturally sets the stage for western Arkansas to become the hub for economic development in our region.”
ABB Motors and Mechanical Inc., a business unit of ABB, is headquartered in Fort Smith.
This company’s commitment to UAFS comes after it announced it would invest $170 million in U.S. manufacturing and distribution operations in 2023. ABB currently employs about 20,000 people at more than 40 manufacturing and distribution facilities across the nation.
“In order to compete on a global scale, U.S. manufacturers like ABB must invest in a continuous pipeline of technically skilled talent,” Jesse Henson, president of ABB’s NEMA Motors division, said in the release. “Driven by our partnership with UAFS, we are rethinking the way communities approach career and technical education in the K-12 and university systems to build strong relationships with businesses and customers.”
Sign up for Daily E-news
