/news-archive/tag/aedi/ 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock Wed, 07 Apr 2021 15:23:56 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9.4 /news-archive/2021/04/07/ua-system-aedi-workforce-training-grant/ Wed, 07 Apr 2021 15:23:56 +0000 /news/?p=78722 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 System Awarded $900,000 Workforce Training Grant]]> Nine 糖心Vlog传媒 System institutions will collaborate on the project, led by the Arkansas Economic Development Institute (AEDI) at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, to collect and analyze statewide workforce data and use outcomes to provide existing and bolstered education and training efforts through all seven of the 糖心Vlog传媒 System鈥檚 two-year colleges, along with two colleges of technology at the University of Arkansas at Monticello (糖心Vlog传媒M). 鈥淭his project is groundbreaking on many levels, especially in the showcase of power that鈥檚 possible by the 糖心Vlog传媒 System harnessing resources in a collaborative and innovative fashion for the greater good,鈥� said Chris Thomason, vice president for planning and development for the 糖心Vlog传媒 System. 鈥淏ut most important is the positive impact this project will have on those adversely affected by the unprecedented disruption of the economy and the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic. By identifying the specific needs of Arkansas communities and matching those with workforce training being offered by the 糖心Vlog传媒 System鈥檚 seven two-year colleges and colleges of technology, we are truly promoting the 糖心Vlog传媒 System鈥檚 mission of serving and providing educational and professional opportunities for all Arkansans.鈥� The $900,000 EDA grant, which will be matched with $225,000 of local investment, will fund the development of a workforce training strategy with a special emphasis on technological skills that boosts community recovery efforts in Pulaski County and eventually across the state. It also enables the creation of the 糖心Vlog传媒 System Workforce Response and Training Center (糖心Vlog传媒-WRTC), which will consist of a consortium of 糖心Vlog传媒 System entities aligned to maximize existing training efforts that will be deployed in a data-driven, collaborative format. The project鈥檚 goal is to focus on identifying workforce populations most impacted by the pandemic through data, and then aligning skills training opportunities for retraining and reemployment to support community pandemic recovery. 鈥淧roviding the tools and resources that communities need to recover from the economic impact of COVID-19 is a top priority for EDA,鈥� said Dennis Alvord, acting assistant secretary of commerce for economic development. 鈥淏y working through the University of Arkansas System and its array of diverse colleges and universities across the state, this project checks all of the boxes on our goals to begin moving the country out of this pandemic and into recovery.鈥� AEDI will operate as the lead data gathering and analyst hub, and 糖心Vlog传媒-WRTC will utilize the comprehensive, historical documentation of the impact of COVID-19 on the state. With the initial focus being Pulaski County, the effort will then spread statewide to develop workforce training strategies that promote expedited economic recovery and sustained growth. Once AEDI identifies the high-demand employer workforce needs, the full portfolio of existing training and credential programs across the entire 糖心Vlog传媒 System two-year institutions and at 糖心Vlog传媒M鈥檚 colleges of technology will be matched to best meet the workforce training need. 鈥淎EDI will foster the development of an industry training alliance comprised of regional employers and 糖心Vlog传媒-WRTC institutions to identify critical economic infrastructure needs to sustain and grow workforce training programs for the region,鈥� said Jim Youngquist,聽executive director of AEDI at 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock. 鈥淪pecial emphasis will be placed on technology and training simulators that will support the success of the centralized training model while ensuring that delivery of training will not be disrupted by future pandemic events.鈥� Youngquist said as the home of the Arkansas State Data Center, AEDI and its existing emphasis on supporting economic research data analysis positions his agency perfectly to lead the collaborative 糖心Vlog传媒 System effort. 鈥淲e will聽be developing a database that will track all aspects of identifying skill sets and jobs available for the underemployed, unemployed and hard-to-employ, all within the corridors of Little Rock where lower per-capita income and unemployment exists,鈥� he said. 鈥淥nce the model is designed, implemented and successful, we will use AEDI鈥檚 statewide data to replicate regional training models across Arkansas to have the same impact. This will allow for a network of regional centers of excellence that will be easily accessible by all Arkansans.鈥� The collaboration includes:聽 糖心Vlog传媒 System Two-Year Institutions

• Phillips Community College of the University of Arkansas
• University of Arkansas Community College at Hope-Texarkana
• University of Arkansas Community College at Batesville
• Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas
• University of Arkansas Community College at Morrilton
• University of Arkansas Community College at Rich Mountain
• University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College

Other 糖心Vlog传媒 System Entities

• University of Arkansas at Monticello
• University of Arkansas at Little Rock
• Arkansas Economic Development Institute

鈥淲orkforce development plays a critical role in helping citizens develop necessary skills to secure well-paying jobs and聽ensuring聽our state continues to attract and retain employers,鈥� said U.S. Sen. John Boozman, R-Ark. 鈥淭his funding will bolster our economic recovery and put hardworking Arkansans in a good position to provide for their families.鈥� The collaborative project is funded under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, which provided the EDA with $1.5 billion for economic assistance programs to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to coronavirus.]]> /news-archive/2020/10/13/aedi-creates-covid-19-initiative/ Tue, 13 Oct 2020 16:29:59 +0000 /news/?p=77688 ... AEDI creates new COVID-19 Initiative to track virus鈥檚 social and economic impact on Arkansas]]> The dashboard will provide Arkansans access to timely and relevant information on how the virus affects their employment, mental health, food security, economic security, education, and other critical indicators. 鈥淲e are excited and proud to offer this unique resource to Arkansas communities struggling to cope with this unparalleled crisis,鈥� said AEDI Director Jim Youngquist. In addition to drawing on traditional data sources, AEDI will work with communities throughout the state to develop new databases that specifically address the challenges and concerns facing Arkansas communities. 鈥淩eliable data is the key to making good decisions, and this new information will be drawn from the lived reality of thousands of Arkansans,鈥� Youngquist noted. 鈥淲e invite all Arkansans to check out the COVID Recovery Website and Dashboard at 鈥� The COVID-19 Dashboard is part of a larger Arkansas EDA COVID-19 Recovery and Resiliency Initiative funded by the U.S. Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA). AEDI鈥檚 two-year project will include the creation of an economic recovery plan as well as the development of a history of the economic impact of COVID-19 on the state. In addition to the new databases, AEDI and the Delta Center for Economic Development at Arkansas State University will join forces with the eight EDA Planning and Economic Development Districts in Arkansas to provide training, documentation, resources, and planning for local government, schools, small businesses, the healthcare community, and other entities affected by the pandemic.]]> /news-archive/2020/08/31/aedi-economic-recovery-grant/ Mon, 31 Aug 2020 13:07:05 +0000 /news/?p=77306 ... 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock receives $300,000 grant to create statewide economic recovery plan]]> The Economic Development Administration is awarding a total of $7.8 million in EDA CARES Act Recovery Assistance grants to universities across the country to boost their capacity to support regional economic development strategies in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The grant funds will be used to help the 糖心Vlog传媒 Little Rock-based Arkansas Economic Development Institute (AEDI) create an Arkansas Recovery and Resiliency Plan in partnership with Arkansas State University and eight planning and economic development districts in Arkansas. 鈥淔or the first 12 months of the project, we are historically documenting what has happened in Arkansas since March in regards to COVID-19,鈥� said Jim Youngquist, AEDI executive director. 鈥淲e are getting on-the-ground information for all 75 counties from small businesses, industry, healthcare, local state, and federal governments, and education. We鈥檝e already interviewed more than 500 people across the state from various sectors.鈥� AEDI is working with the Arkansas Economic Developers and Chamber Executives to reach out to the 138 Chambers of Commerce in Arkansas to learn about the economic impact on small businesses and main streets. AEDI鈥檚 economists are analyzing how local income, state sales taxes, and revenue rates are impacting the state鈥檚 economy. 鈥淭hus far, we鈥檝e been surprised at how it has affected the smaller towns in the state,鈥� Youngquist said. 鈥淲e always say we have a lot of small towns that are hanging on, and we feared that COVID-19 would push them over the edge. The initial impact on smaller communities in the state who rely heavily on sales tax revenue for local government operations has not been as bad as we feared. Many people are staying home and shopping locally. Communities will become more vulnerable the longer the COVID-19 pandemic continues. The communities where schools do not reopen are really going to affect the economy. You do not know if parents will be able to keep their jobs if their kids are not going back to school.鈥� The research group has created eight regional task forces and a 41-member statewide advisory council that includes members from higher education, state government, chambers of commerce, utility companies, U.S. Small Business Administration, Arkansas Department of Education, Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center, and more. 鈥淚n the second 12 months of the project, we will be working with the task forces and advisory group to develop strategies that focus on economic recovery and resiliency,鈥� Youngquist said. 鈥淚f something like this happens again, local towns need a plan on how they will be able to deal with this next time. For this to be successful, the people in the communities are going to be the ones who drive this effort. We are trying to create a structure where they can identify what has happened, and we can help them develop strategies toward recovery.鈥� The funds will be used to provide training, resources, and planning assistance for local governments, schools, small businesses, the healthcare community, manufacturing, and other entities affected by the coronavirus pandemic. 鈥淭hese investments come at a crucial time to help our nation鈥檚 economy come roaring back and provide hard-working Americans with new opportunities,鈥� said Dana Gartzke, Performing the Delegated Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development. 鈥淲e are pleased to make these investments in EDA University Centers across the nation to deliver university-based resources to communities and businesses that have been impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.鈥漖]>