2024
November 18, 2024 – Arkansas celebrates 10th annual National Apprenticeship Week
The Office of Skills Development, a division of Workforce Connections within the Arkansas Department of Commerce, announces its participation in the 10th annual National Apprenticeship Week (NAW), taking place Nov. 17-23, 2024. This year’s theme, “Celebrating 10 Years of Engagement, Expansion, and Innovation,” highlights a decade of growth in apprenticeship programs and their impact on building a skilled workforce nationwide.
June 24, 2024 – The Arkansas Division of Higher Education and the Arkansas Department of Commerce announce a competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) for workforce development funding.
A competitive Request for Proposals (RFP) designed to invest in strategic workforce training focus areas aligned with the Arkansas Workforce Strategy will be released with up to $88M of total funds available through ADHE Workforce Initiative grant funding and ARPA funds (pending Arkansas Legislative Council approval). The RFP will open on June 24, 2024.
May 7, 2024 – New Technology Certified Pre-Apprenticeship Program Changes Lives in Northwest Arkansas
The InnovateHER Technology Certified Pre-Apprenticeship Rotation Program launched on May 6, 2024, for 20 individuals interested in careers in technology. This program, hosted by Women in Technology of Northwest Arkansas, is a one-year program designed primarily for women coming out of high school or looking for a career change. This program has been approved by OSD as an Arkansas Certified Pre-Apprenticeship Program. Read more…
April 6, 2024 – OSD Staff Participates in Cure Walk
Congratulations to Carman Jackson (left) and Bonnie Casey (right) in their successful participation in the 4th annual Be A part of the Cure Walk. The primary purpose of this walk is to raise awareness about cancer and provide the participants with education on cancer prevention and treatment. All money earned stays in Arkansas to fund cancer research, clinic trials, and long-term survival studies.
April 1, 2024 – Four High School Students Pass the EPA Exam
Congratulations to the four UA Hope-Texarkana Secondary Career & Technical Education Center students who recently passed the EPA exam which allows them to work in the HVAC industry. Elijah Cox, Gavin Hatley, Kage Hillery, and Clay Walraven all passed the test on the first attempt. They are now certified to maintain, service, repair, or dispose of refrigerant-containing equipment. Read more…
March 16, 2024 – OSD Awards UA Pulaski Tech with $1.7 Million Grant to Update Advanced Manufacturing Facilities
The Arkansas Office of Skills Development awards Pulaski Technical College’s Advanced Manufacturing Program with a $1,784,016 grant to modernize its advanced manufacturing program. Upgrades to the machining and CNC labs as well as changes in software, equipment, and curriculum are being made. To read more…
February 20, 2024 – St Bernards Medical Center Receives OSD Grant for Training
Through a $45k grant from OSD, St Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro now offers VR medical training to Patient Care Technicians. Up to 30 individuals can train on clinical skills such as taking blood pressure and vitals, checking respiration, pain assessments, and even taking gloves off and on before and after procedures. For more information…
February 16, 2024 – OSD in Partnership with emPOWER Arkansas Expo to be held on March 13, 2024.
Arkansas energy & workforce groups collaborate to host the first emPOWER Arkansas Expo to promote the advanced energy sector & the careers available in the industry. The event is from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 13 at the Saline County Career and Technical Campus in Benton. You can email: [email protected] for more information
January 18, 2024 – OSD Takes Applications for Registered Pre-Apprenticeship Programs
OSD is now receiving applications for Certified Pre-Apprenticeship Programs. You can download our Handbook for more information: https://simplebooklet.com/apprenticeshiptoolkit
2023
October 23, 2023 – Stephanie Isaacs names OSD Director
Commerce Secretary Hugh McDonald named Stephanie Isaacs as the new Director of the Office of Skills Director. Isaacs replaces Cody Waits who left OSD earlier this month.
August 7, 2023 – Arkansas Department of Commerce’s Office of Skills Development Awards $1.2 Million Grant to Launch Steelmaking Bootcamp in Mississippi County.
A $1.2 million grant from the Arkansas Office of Skills Development (OSD) to Arkansas Northeastern College (ANC) is helping create the Arkansas Steelmaking Boot Camp. The boot camp, a job skills initiative projected to train 500 individuals in its first year, is designed to meet the demand for skilled workers for the growing steelmaking industry in northeast Arkansas. Mississippi County in northeast Arkansas has become a significant steelmaking hub. Companies like Big River Steel/U.S. Steel, Nucor-Yamato Steel, Nucor Steel Arkansas, Highbar Steel, Tenaris….read more
February 3, 2023 – OSD Joins Greenway Equipment to Fund Ag Power System Technology Program at the Lonoke Business Academy
With a million-dollar investment from the Arkansas Office of Skills Development (OSD) and another $1.5 million from Greenway Equipment, Lonoke Business Academy will develop and implement an “Ag Power System Technology” program. This program will be available to high school students in Carlisle, Hazen, England, Des Arc, and Lonoke school districts to learn to maintain and repair specialized farm, ranch, and agribusiness power equipment and vehicles …. read more
2022
March 15, 2022 – OVER $8 MILLION IN OSD WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT GRANTS AWARDED
Gov. Asa Hutchinson awarded $8 million in grants to economic and workforce development partnerships to create training opportunities for in-demand skills and certifications. Robotics, cyber security, rural forestry, and truck driver training are just some of the workforce initiatives around the state receiving grant funding from the Department of Commerce Office of Skills Development…. read more
2021
February 1, 2021 – ARKANSAS DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE/OFFICE OF SKILLS DEVELOPMENT & TMC LAUNCHES AUGMENTED GAME FOR STUDENTS IN ARKANSAS
OSD and the American Trucking Association’s Technology & Maintenance Council announced the release of a new augmented reality game app aimed at attracting, fostering, and welcoming a new generation of skilled technicians to the trucking industry. The game is first being made available to students and other interested parties in the State of Arkansas due to OSD’s premier sponsorship of the project…. read more
