labor lawAdivision of labor law center

A trio of Arkansas community colleges received grants exceeding $5 million recently from the U.S. Department of Labor. The grants will fund programs across the U.S. to train workers for high-demand occupations, including healthcare, construction, advanced manufacturing and energy.

The Arkansas Dept. of Labor grants were given based on a competition between 429 schools.”Community colleges are vital partners in educating and preparing workers for good jobs in their local area,” said Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao.

The prestigious Arkansas Dept. of Labor grants went to three community colleges, including Rich Mountain Community College in Mena, Arkansas, which received a grant of $2,349,207 to train workers in healthcare. The South Arkansas Community College program in El Dorado received $1,573,688 to train workers in the healthcare industry. Finally, the University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville received $1,992,274 for a healthcare training program. 

“The $125 million these 72 community college partnerships will receive under the President’s Community-Based Job Training Initiative is going to help workers succeed in careers in health care, advanced manufacturing and other growing industries,” said Labor Secretary Elaine Chao. 

The purpose of the Arkansas Dept. of Labor grants is to increase worker skills in the area, especially in high-demand areas. More than 104 awards have been made since the program’s inception in 2005.  The community college’s ability to equip workers with the skills that are most in demand is crucial to our nation’s success.  Skilled workers can enter growing industries and contribute to economic success.

The Arkansas Dept. of Labor grants are part of over $125 million for 72 community colleges in 34 states awarded under the President’s Community-based Job Training Grants initiative. The program was introduced by President George W. Bush in his 2004 State of the Union Address.

“Today’s awards recall the imperative that businesses and the workforce system team up with their region’s community colleges to ensure that workers are armed with the right skills to thrive in the 21st century economy,” said Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training Emily Stover DeRocco. “Community colleges are closely tied to the areas they serve, and they have proven themselves adept at responding to the regional workforce demands of numerous industries.”

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