JONESBORO (Ark.) - The Arkansas Office of Skills Development awarded Arkansas State University-Newport more than $200,000 to support a new manufacturing training program that will help local industries.

Manufacturing continues to be a growing industry across Northeast Arkansas, and several industry leaders voiced concerns about the need for more specialized training for technical operators. S&H System, Hytrol and Intimidator UTV are three industries that approached ASU-Newport about providing training to help strengthen their workforce.

With specialized training, these industries hope their workforce will operate more efficiently and at a faster pace. Thanks to the Arkansas Office of Skills Development, ASUN will utilize $234,823 to design a non-credit training program called the Manufacturing and Conveyor Technician (MCT) program. “This is another great example of ASUN working to create sector partnerships with business leaders developing innovative programs that alleviate current and future workforce needs”, said Office of Skills Development (OSD) Director Cody Waits. “The mission of OSD is to strategically invest in the Arkansas workforce raising education and skill levels meeting the needs of companies operating in Arkansas”. The curriculum will consist of safety training, production techniques, basic mechanical skills, conveyor systems’ logic control, pneumatics and hydraulics and programmable logic controls training.

This funding helps drive ASUN’s mission of supporting the regional economy by helping train the workforce. 
“ASU-Newport is very excited to be partnering with our regional manufacturers, and the Arkansas Office of Skills Development to provide this Manufacturing and Conveyor Technician (MCT) program,” said Jeff Bookout, ASUN’s Vice Chancellor for Economic and Workforce Development. “We hope this program will provide an infusion of workers to this field that will offer a sustaining wage for its participants, while also acting as a springboard for long term careers in the Manufacturing field.”

ASU-Newport plans to begin accepting students in early 2022.

Click here to get more information on the program.

For more information about this program or other workforce initiatives, contact ASUN’s Office for Economic and Workforce Development at 870-680-8743.