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$1.7M HIRED Grant Bolsters Advanced Manufacturing Efforts
The University of Arkansas 鈥� Fort Smith has been awarded a $1.7 million Higher Industry Readiness through Educational Development (HIRED) grant, one of just three universities in the state to receive awards from both the Division of Higher Education and the Department of Commerce tracks of the HIRED program.
"Receiving this $1.7 million HIRED grant from the Division of Higher Education is incredibly exciting for AV抖阴 and our community," said AV抖阴 Chancellor Dr. Terisa Riley. "This funding allows us to establish a Manufacturing Academy that will address workforce needs in advanced manufacturing while helping individuals in our region gain the skills needed for high-paying jobs. With these funds, we will modernize classrooms, upgrade technology, and build on the momentum of the $4 million HIRED grant we received from the Department of Commerce. I am deeply grateful for the opportunity to seek these funds from the state of Arkansas and for their belief in the River Valley and in AV抖阴."
The funding, part of nearly $26 million awarded by Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Arkansas Division of Higher Education Commissioner Ken Warden, and Chief Workforce Officer Mike Rogers, will be distributed to 14 recipients across the state to bolster workforce development efforts.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no one-size-fits-all approach to education, and the HIRED Grant Program helps
us meet Arkansas students, schools, and businesses where they are,鈥� Governor Sanders
said in a press release. 鈥淭hese grants will help build the workforce of the future
and make Arkansas more competitive in industries such as steel manufacturing, aerospace
and defense, lithium, and cybersecurity.鈥�
The HIRED grants support state and regional industry partnerships, providing funding
for data-driven education and workforce training programs. The program was established
under the Workforce Initiative Act of 2015 and is jointly administered by the Arkansas
Department of Commerce and the Arkansas Division of Higher Education.
The $1.7 million grant will enable AV抖阴 to establish a Manufacturing Academy at the AV抖阴 Center for Economic Development aimed at addressing critical gaps in the local workforce while supporting unemployed and underemployed individuals in the River Valley region through student stipends, technology, and educational personnel. Additionally, it will allow AV抖阴 to modernize classrooms in the Baldor Building, upgrade classroom technologies, and enhance advanced manufacturing facilities, building on the momentum of the earlier $4 million HIRED grant award.
Kendall Ross, associate vice chancellor for economic and workforce development at AV抖阴, emphasized the initiative's importance for the region鈥檚 economic growth.
鈥淎dvanced manufacturing is the future of industry in Arkansas, and this grant ensures AV抖阴 can prepare the workforce needed to support it,鈥� Ross said. 鈥淭hrough hands-on training, updated technology, and facility enhancements, we will empower individuals with the skills to step into high-paying careers and help drive economic growth.鈥�
Dr. Latisha Settlage, dean of the College of Business & Industry at AV抖阴, highlighted the collaborative effort behind the award. 鈥淲e are thrilled to receive this additional HIRED grant funding, which allows us to continue plans for implementing new and improved programs in advanced manufacturing engineering. The additional funding will assist in further developing human capital and improving facilities, enabling us to deliver state-of-the-art education.
"AV抖阴 is a proud partner in regional workforce development, and we are grateful to our business and industry partners. It is their strong support that made our proposal competitive. AV抖阴 is committed to providing relevant educational programs to ensure graduates are prepared with the skills needed by employers today and in the future," Settlage said.
The Governor and the Department of Commerce announced $48 million in HIRED training
grants in November. The HIRED grants are intended to provide funding for state and
regional industry-driven partnerships and data-driven education and workforce training
programs. Funding for the grants comes from Arkansas Workforce Initiative grant funding
and federal funds.
The grants were awarded as part of the Higher Industry Readiness through Educational
Development (HIRED) program, using funding that was established by the Workforce Initiative
Act of 2015. In total, $88 million is available through the HIRED Grant program鈥檚
two tracks, which are separately administered through the Arkansas Department of Commerce
and the Arkansas Division of Higher Education.
鈥淭hese awards directly align with the Arkansas Workforce Strategy by connecting higher education efforts with the needs of Arkansas employers. This is a win for Arkansas. Employers will have the workforce they need, and employees will earn higher wages by being better trained,鈥� said Warden.