Governor Sanders, Arkansas Department of Commerce Award ASU System Institutions $10.5 Million in Workforce Training Grants

LITTLE ROCK — Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders and the Arkansas Department of Commerce announced today that Arkansas State University System institutions in Jonesboro, Newport and Malvern will receive a combined $10.5 million for three training grants to support workforce development efforts.

The grants include:

• ASU Three Rivers – $2.8 million to renovate and expand facilities to support electrician and machinist training programs for industrial maintenance;
• Arkansas State University and ASU-Newport – $7.5 million with Arkansas Northeastern College in Blytheville for a joint effort focused on stackable credentials in advanced manufacturing, food processing and steel manufacturing; and
• ASU-Newport in Jonesboro – $250,000 for a manufacturing technician training program and expansion of apprenticeship programs.

These grants are part of $48 million awarded to institutions statewide for projects aligned with the Arkansas Workforce Strategy. The funding comes through the Higher Education Industry-Ready Educational Development (HIRED) program, established under the Workforce Initiative Act of 2015.

"The best part of the HIRED program is the collaboration between the public and private sectors to build a workforce that supports Arkansas's fastest-growing industries," said Governor Sanders. "The $48 million we are announcing through the HIRED grant program will help provide solutions for Arkansas business leaders who are looking for more qualified, skilled and hardworking employees to grow their companies."

ASU System President Brendan Kelly expressed gratitude to the governor and workforce agencies for supporting the system's initiatives.

"This state investment helps us expand training and career opportunities for our students, and that is paramount to the ASU System's purpose and success in serving employers," Kelly said. "We thank the governor, the workforce cabinet leadership and the General Assembly for their leadership and support in providing the critical funding that helps us advance these initiatives."

Arkansas Secretary of Commerce Hugh McDonald said workforce development is a top priority for Governor Sanders and the Department of Commerce.

"The HIRED grants will have a major impact on preparing the next generation of Arkansans to enter the workforce," McDonald said. "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, the Arkansas Department of Education, the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, the Office of Skills Development and the Workforce Director — has partnered and collaborated with the private sector and our educational institutions throughout this process, and we look forward to the positive outcomes that programs supported through the HIRED Grant Program will have in Arkansas, which can be measured by the employment outcomes of these partnerships."

Nineteen organizations in Arkansas received the $48 million in grant funding under Pathway 2 of the HIRED grant program, managed by the Arkansas Department of Commerce and Arkansas Workforce Connections.

Mike Rogers, Arkansas's Workforce Director, said "Apprenticeship programs, trade schools and the college system play an important role in building Arkansas's workforce." "This round of investment is aimed at the competencies that key industries have requested. We are relying on companies to guide and confirm that they can hire skilled workers."

The HIRED grants are intended to provide funding for industry-driven partnerships at the state and regional levels, as well as data-driven workforce training and education programs. Funding for these grants comes from the Arkansas Workforce Initiative funding and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding.

"The HIRED grants demonstrate Arkansas's commitment to investing in its workforce and economic future," said Cody Waits, Executive Director of Arkansas Workforce Connections. "We are excited to provide this level of support, not only for these education and training providers but also for employers across the state as they equip Arkansans with the skills needed to meet the ever-changing needs of industry."