SouthArk awarded $788,587 grant

By Randal Curtman

Managing Editor

EL DORADO — South Arkansas Community College has been awarded a $788,587 grant from the Economic Development Administration to construct the Advanced Manufacturing Training Center in El Dorado.

The training center will be a 9,000-square-foot facility for classrooms and specialized training space both inside and out to support industry-related programs, said Heath Waldrop, marketing and communications coordinator for the college, in an email on Tuesday.

The training center will include three furnished classrooms, four offices, storage space and two large bays: a 60-foot-by-60-foot reconfigurable, multi-high-bay space; and a 30-foot-by-60-foot bay for hand tools and advanced welding training.

The new building will facilitate the training of incumbent and future manufacturing employees to successfully fill existing and impending vacancies, said SouthArk President Dr. Barbara Jones.

“Regional industry leaders anticipate the need for many manufacturing-related workers in south Arkansas in the next five years,” she said. “A unique and strong collaboration exists between SouthArk and south Arkansas industries, which have helped to develop and design the AMTC facility as well provided input on the curriculum for process and industrial technology, mechatronics, welding and industrial safety credit and non-credit training for new and existing employees in south Arkansas.”

U.S. Senators John Boozman, Tom Cotton and U.S. Rep. Bruce Westerman each issued statements congratulating the community college leaders on Tuesday.

“A thriving manufacturing sector is one of the keys to remaining competitive in today’s global economy,” Boozman said. “This grant is beneficial in that regard as it will help create a skilled workforce to fill those jobs right here in Arkansas. This new training center at South Arkansas Community College will help put our state’s economy in a good position to grow and give Arkansans an opportunity to learn the skills necessary to land well-paying, manufacturing jobs.”

“Congratulations to South Arkansas Community College on winning this grant,” Cotton said. “I know this manufacturing center will be a great addition to the college and help students better prepare to meet the growing need for high-skill technicians across South Arkansas.”

“In order to grow the economy, companies must have skilled workers,” Westerman said. “This grant to construct the Advance Manufacturing Training Center will build a pipeline of skilled

workers for companies across South Arkansas. Not only will this help companies fill open positions, but it will create incentive for employers to start or expand their operations in and around Union County. Congratulations to South Arkansas Community College on this grant and I look forward to seeing its impact on the region.”

The total cost of the training center is more than $1.7 million.

The college will utilize state general improvement funds, college millage funds, and generous donations through its foundation to match the EDA grant, Waldrop said.

Input from local industry representatives led to expanding the scope of the plans to include tanker-trailer to railcar loading and off-loading training.

The facility will be located on SouthArk’s East Campus, directly behind the existing Center for Workforce Development, situated one mile north of the El Dorado Industrial Park.

The architectural plans already have been prepared and the bid documents are being finalized. The college will seek bids for the facility in early November.

The projected timeline for completion is 12 months from bid, Waldrop said.

Once the contractor is selected and the site is prepared, construction is anticipated to begin in January of 2017.

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