Arkansas has been awarded a $5.9 million federal grant to help keep pace with demand for skilled workers in the state's growing manufacturing industry.
East Arkansas, an increasingly popular destination for automotive and advanced manufacturing plants, will be a major recipient of the funds from the U.S. Department of Labor. Demand in the region is expected to increase by 2,000 to 3,000 skilled workers with the growth of manufacturers there over the next few years.
Recent developments include Atlas Tube, Inc.'s October announcement that it plans to build a 450,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Blytheville, bringing 100 new jobs to the area. American Railcar Industries' plant in Paragould is undergoing an $8 million expansion expected to add 80 new jobs. There is also talk that Hino Motors Ltd., an affiliate of Toyota, plans to open its second U.S. automotive assembly plant in Marion in 2007. The company is already building a $160 million Toyota truck parts manufacturing facility there that is slated to employ 280 when production begins next fall.
To meet demand for new and expanding plants in the region, the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services plans to use grant funds to create the Arkansas Delta Training and Education Consortium to prepare workers for automotive and advanced manufacturing jobs.
Workers with training in computer fundamentals, hydraulics, pneumatics, electronics, robotics, industrial machining and technical math are in high demand. U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao said in a statement that the $5.9 million grant will train at least 2,500 people for skilled manufacturing jobs.
The Arkansas Department of Workforce Services, Department of Economic Development, Department of Workforce Education, Department of Higher Education and Arkansas Workforce Development Board were all involved in getting the grant.
Statewide, the funds will be used to establish regional skills centers that respond to local industry work force needs.