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.”
