Governor Sanders allocates $26M in HIRED grants to boost Arkansas workforce development
Summary
Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced the allocation of nearly $26 million in HIRED training grants to 14 recipients on Thursday.The grants aim to bolster workforce development across the state.Theres no one-size-fits-all approach to education and the HIRED Grant Program helps us meet Arkansas students, schools, and businesses where they are, said Governor Sanders. These grants will help build the workforce of the future and make Arkansas more competitive in industries such as steel manufacturing, aerospace and defense, lithium, and cybersecurity. Employers will have the workforce they need and employees will earn higher wages by being better trained.Chief Workforce Officer Mike Rogers highlighted Arkansass tradition of innovation and entrepreneurship, saying, It is the right time to invest regionally in our two- and four-year colleges. Employers are asking for specific short-term training and higher education degrees. Part of it is going back to our roots, but also pioneering new spaces.The HIRED grants, part of the Higher Industry Readiness through Educational Development program, are funded through the Arkansas Workforce Initiative.