Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and state economic officials on Thursday announced $48 million in grants to support workforce development efforts around the state.
The grants were awarded to data-driven education and workforce training programs under the Higher Industry Readiness through Educational Development (HIRED) program, established by the Workforce Initiative Act of 2015. Nineteen organizations in Arkansas received the grants in the Track 2 portion of the HIRED grants program, administered by the Arkansas Department of Commerce and Arkansas Workforce Connections.
Eligible programs offer short-term career and technical training for skill attainment and industry-recognized credentials. Funding for the grants comes from Arkansas Workforce Initiative grant funding and American Rescue Plan Act.
The largest grant, $7.5 million, will be shared between Arkansas State University in Jonesboro and Arkansas State University-Newport. The funds will support a joint effort with with Arkansas Northeastern College in Blytheville that focuses on stacked credentials in the areas of advanced manufacturing, food processing and steel production.
The second-largest grant, $6 million, went to National Park College in Hot Springs, which will use the funds to construct a 12,000-SF welding and metalworking facility. The two-year community college said the new facility will double its capacity to train skilled workers, meeting the growing demand for skilled welders and metalworkers in the region.
“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,” Sanders said. “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.”
In total, $88 million in grants is available through the HIRED program’s two tracks, which are separately administered through the Arkansas Department of Commerce and the Arkansas Division of Higher Education.
“Apprenticeships, trade schools and the college system are vital in building Arkansas’s workforce,” said Mike Rogers, the state’s chief workforce officer. “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 full list of grant recipients is below.
- Jonesboro and Newport, Arkansas State University and ASU-Newport – $7.5 million
- Hot Springs, National Park College – $6 million
- Batesville, UAAC Batesville – $5 million
- Camden, Southern Arkansas University Tech – $5 million
- Springdale, NWTI Education Foundation – $4 million
- Western Arkansas, University of Arkansas-Fort Smith – $4 million
- Fort Smith, Arkansas Colleges of Health Education – $3 million
- Malvern, Arkansas State University Three Rivers – $2.8 million
- Little Rock, Apprenticely – $2 million
- North Little Rock, UA Pulaski Technical College – $2 million
- Walnut Ridge, Williams Baptist – $1.9 million
- Searcy, Harding University Digital Forensics Lab – $1.5 million
- Little Rock, Arkansas Construction Education Foundation – $1 million
- Little Rock, The Venture Center – $500,000
- Little Rock, Little Rock Regional Chamber – $500,000
- Arkadelphia, Ouachita Baptist University – $437,500
- El Dorado, South Arkansas College – $325,000
- Jonesboro (primary), Newport, Arkansas State University-Newport – $250,000
- Helena-West Helena, Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas – $249,000
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