Skilled by Design in Crossett

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(Editor’s Note: Each year, Arkansas Business partners with the Arkansas Municipal League to present the Trendsetter City awards, which recognize exceptional initiatives underway in municipalities across the state. Large, medium and small-sized cities were honored in six categories: Diversity and Inclusion; Education/Workforce Development; Infrastructure and Water; Public Works/Environmental and Green Management; Technology and Security; and Tourism Development/Creative Culture. Below is one winner’s story. For more, click here.)

Education/ Workforce Development
Honorable Mention • 5,000 – 20,000

The Challenge

Two of Crossett’s major industries, manufacturing and forestry, require workers who can operate advanced machinery and contribute productively on Day 1 of employment. However, the local workforce lacked up-to-date training equipment and certification pathways. Local employers reported difficulty hiring for skilled positions, and avenues for local residents to enter these trades were limited. Leadership at the University of Monticello’s College of Technology at Crossett recognized that education and industry needed to align to find a training model that could serve local industry needs while accommodating the available workforce.

The Solution

Through a partnership between UAM-CTC, the Crossett Economic Development Foundation and local industry, the Sustainable Trade Alliance was formed. Supported by a $2 million state grant, the initiative has established a new workforce training program focused on the forestry supply chain and industrial trades. Using simulators and computer-based learning, training can run 365 days a year, allowing students to self-direct learning at their own pace. With more than 45 industry partners informing the program design and curriculum, the Alliance enables students to stay current with evolving technology and procedures, creating a direct pathway to skilled, high-wage jobs for southeast Arkansas residents. 

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