The Arkansas Department of Transportation (ARDOT) recently announced three workforce development grants totaling $456,000 that were all awarded to University of Arkansas System two-year institutions.

One of ARDOT’s Transportation-Related Research and Workforce Development Program’s annual grants the University of Arkansas – East Arkansas Community College (UA-EACC), which received $60,000. UA-EACC Chancellor Cathie Cline, Ed.D. said the grant funding will help continued development of one of the college’s diesel technology programs.

“We’re thankful for any additional funding we can put toward our mission of assisting local business and industry and in helping to develop the workforce in our region,” Cline said. “UA-EACC’s diesel technology program has been recognized as  one of the best in the nation, and investing in industry-standard equipment enhances our effort to continue to offer best-in-class training opportunities for students, and ultimately providing them a pathway to attaining or enhancing their careers.”

According to ARDOT, the purpose of the annual grant program is to help support the study of materials and sources to provide resilient and sustainable logistics, processes, materials, and methods to ensure cost-effectiveness and the furtherance of education and economic development in transportation. The grant program also supports industry training, apprenticeship, and educational programs for transportation-related personnel development.

“The emphasis our regional two-year colleges place on meeting their communities’ educational and workforce needs is truly inspiring,” said UA System President Jay B. Silveria. “Any additional funding realized through these ARDOT workforce development grants is reinvested right back into Arkansas communities through highly effective programming that’s already working to shore up more opportunities for Arkansans to thrive in the workforce.”