Nearly $1 Million Awarded to ANC and Delta Community College Partners in New Grant

Nearly $1 Million Awarded to ANC and 

Delta Community College Partners in New Grant

The Arkansas Northeastern College and fellow members of the Arkansas Delta Training and Education Consortium (ADTEC) will share in a $988,570 grant that will prepare workers for advanced manufacturing and transportation careers as part of the Arkansas General Assembly’s Workforce Initiative Act of 2015.

The Arkansas Department of Higher Education, the grant program’s administering agency, recently made notification of the award to the ADTEC Consortium made up of Arkansas Northeastern College, Arkansas State University – Newport, East Arkansas Community College in Forrest City, Arkansas State University MidSouth in West Memphis, and Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas in Helena.

      “This is another wonderful opportunity secured through the ADTEC Consortium to assist this region in training our workers for the manufacturing and transportation fields,” said ANC President Dr. James Shemwell.

The primary goal of this program is to create long-term relationships between employers and regional workforce alliances to address the challenge of skills gaps among workers in the region. By ensuring that post-secondary educational institutions are producing the credentials employers need, Arkansas can be more effective in recruiting new industry to the state.

“The ADTEC colleges met extensively with employer partners throughout the region surveying best practices and including workforce alliance partners in specific discussions,” explained Dr. Callie Dunavin, Director of ADTEC and Associate Vice Chancellor of Strategic Initiatives at ASU Mid-South.  “ADTEC was one of the 3 highest funded grantees in the new state workforce funding totaling over $15 million.”

Dave Brady, Executive Director of Workforce Development Board of Eastern Arkansas, who participated in planning processes for the project, commented, “In keeping with national trends, employers are vocal that employees’ lack of basic/soft skills costs companies time, money, and productivity and is the primary skills gap.  The ADAPT program is an excellent example of collaborating with industry and education to bridge these skills gaps that prevent employees from being successful in higher-demand occupations in advanced manufacturing and transportation, distribution and logistics -  jobs that are at the top of the lists on our regional employers hiring forecasts. “

The grant award supports Arkansas Delta Accelerating Pathways Together (ADAPT) program which focuses on delivering training that provides rapid entry into the regional workforce in targeted sectors identified as high demand by labor market data, workforce development boards, and employer feedback. The program will focus on pathways in advanced manufacturing and transportation, distribution and logistics with a regional approach to Certified Driver Training. These sectors were selected because of the high level of importance in the region, and the interdependence of the two sectors.

“The Workforce Initiative Act grant will allow ANC to intensify our education and training offerings in the area of advanced manufacturing to meet local demand for a high-skilled workforce,” Shemwell added. “Additionally, by partnering with other colleges in ADTEC, we will be able to offer commercial driver’s license training without having to make a massive investment in over-the-road equipment, thereby providing a commonsense solution to the current heavy demand for CDL drivers.”

Work-based learning opportunities will be integrated where employer support is available. Additionally, ADTEC plans to develop a regional, employer-recognized certification which will be awarded to students who complete all requirements of the ADAPT workforce readiness model.

According to the Arkansas Department of Higher Education, “the Workforce Initiative Act Regional Workforce Grant Program seeks to properly evaluate and address the workforce education needs of our state. Preparing and encouraging Arkansans to pursue high-demand jobs, including but not limited to, those stemming from industry recognized credentials, career and technical certificates, associate degrees, and bachelor's degrees is essential to building a skilled and employment-ready workforce.”