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ETA News Release: [11/29/2005]
Contact Name: Stephanie Cathcart or David James
Phone Number: 202-693-4676
Release Number: 05-2239-DAL

U.S. Secretary of Labor Announces $5.9 Million Grant to Train Workers for Advanced Manufacturing Careers in Arkansas

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao and Gov. Mike Huckabee today announced a grant of approximately $5.9 million to help prepare Arkansas workers for advanced manufacturing careers as part of the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative. Chao and Huckabee were joined for the announcement in Little Rock by four community college presidents and other key partners in the grant.

“This $5.9 million grant under the President's High Growth Job Training Initiative will train at least 2,500 workers for promising careers and help build a pipeline of qualified workers to make Arkansas an even more attractive home for job-producing industries,” said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

Awarded to the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services, the grant will help establish regional skill centers that respond to local industry workforce needs. A high school-level advanced manufacturing program also will be set up with community college partners so students can earn credits toward a Baccalaureate of Applied Science degree.

Key partners in the grant are: Mid-South Community College, Arkansas Northeastern College, East Arkansas Community College, Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas, Department of Workforce Education, Arkansas Workforce Investment Board, Department of Higher Education, and the Department of Economic Development.

Eastern Arkansas is experiencing an influx of automotive and advanced manufacturing plants whose demand for skilled employees will rise anywhere from more than 2,000 to an additional 3,000 workers. To meet that demand, the Arkansas Delta Training and Education Consortium will be created to increase the pipeline of workers prepared for the automotive and advanced manufacturing industries.

“Talent development is key to regional economic development,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco. “ Arkansas is working to expand employment and advancement opportunities for the region's workers and to catalyze the creation of high-skill and high-wage jobs in the state.”

The President's High Growth Job Training Initiative is a strategic effort to prepare workers to take advantage of new job opportunities in high growth sectors of the American economy. Through executive forums with leaders of expanding industries, critical workforce gaps and issues are identified. Solutions are then created in cooperation with employers, educational institutions and the public workforce system. For more information, please visit www.doleta.gov/BRG/JobTrainInitiative.