Arkansas Tech University-Ozark Campus has been awarded a phase one planning grant from the Workforce Initiative Act Regional Workforce Grant Program.
Passed into law in 2015 by the Arkansas General Assembly, the program seeks to establish statewide configuration enabling students in Arkansas universities, community colleges and secondary centers to take part in career and technical education programs designed with feedback and input from area employers and industries.
The goal of the program is to generate lasting partnerships between employers and regional workforce alliances to detect and address the issue of skills gaps in employees and employee candidates in the regional workforce pool. Through a competitive grant process, the program encourages and aids regional workforce and education alliances.
Arkansas Tech-Ozark proposed a plan for program development in Automation Systems Technology utilizing Arkansas Tech University, Arkansas Tech-Ozark and its secondary career center in Russellville known as the Arkansas Tech Career Center (ATCC), as well as ATCC’s satellite career center locations in Danville, Clarksville and Paris.
Program development will also focus on the educational resources of Arkansas Tech University combined with industry support forming the Arkansas Tech University Regional Training Alliance.
The phase one planning funds, available to regional workforce alliances for a period of up to 12 months, support plan development to create industry-focused career paths that align with workforce objectives set by Local Workforce Development Boards and include both K-12 and higher education institutions.
Arkansas Tech-Ozark Chancellor Bruce Sikes said, “The establishment of the training alliance will provide students and employers educational access to relevant industry credentials utilizing the many resources of Arkansas Tech University and its industry partners, which support the diverse skilled labor needs of Arkansas’ workforce.”
