Our View

Our View

College partnership a boon to community

ASU Mid-South, the Community College here in West Memphis, has long been the crown jewel of our communities throughout Crittenden County, and news the other day that our fabulous two-year higher-ed institution will be sharing a nearly $1 million grant is extremely exciting.

Our community college has been selected by members of Gov. Asa Hutchinson’s Governor’s Workforce Cabinet to receive this Regional Workforce planning Grant that will be used to prepare workers for advanced manufacturing and transportation careers.

Let us make it clear that ASU Mid-South, the Delta Community College and several other institutions throughout the state will be benefiting from bi-partisan legislative leadership of Republican Sen. Jane English of North Little Rock and Reps. Bill Gossage, R-Ozark; Eddie L. Armstrong, D-North Little Rock; Mary Bentley, R-Shady Lane, Perryville; Charles Blake, DNorth Little Rock; Ken Bragg, R-Sheridan; Andy Davis, R-Little Rock; Jon S. Eubanks, R-Paris; Michael John Gray, D-Augusta; Douglas House, RNorth Little Rock; Greg Leding, D-Fayetteville; Clarke Tucker, D-Little Rock; and DeAnn Vaught, RHoratio.

It is because of their ability to work together they were able to draft a bill and get it passed during the regular session of the Legislature last year that is making these funds available for our progressive, local community college.

We should all be proud to know that our institution of higher learning has been given the opportunity to expand its ability to provide the necessary training of workers for the ever expanding manufacturing sector.

Our very own Dr. Debra West, chancellor of our community college, was among the recipients who will make up this special consortium which will play a vital part in creating long term relationships between employers and regional workforce alliances to address the challenge of skills gaps among workers in the region.

Dr. West said that by ensuring that post-secondary educational institutions are producing the credentials employers need, Arkansas and this region can be more effective in recruiting new industry to the state.

We’re told ASU Mid-South will share $988,570 with Delta Community College and fellow members of the Arkansas Delta Training and Education Consortium (ADTEC).

For years now, our community college has played a vital role in workforce training, which is something Gov. Hutchinson has placed enormous emphasis on.

This latest opportunity will only enhance our institution’s ability to meet the workforce needs of existing and potential industries looking to expand, create or even re-locate here.

It is important to understand that it is programs such as what this grant will provide that makes potential investors take a second look at what we have to offer.

Anyone experienced in economic development fully realizes that landing a sizable investor capable of providing scores of new, well paying jobs requires much more than just government incentives. A community or a state that fails to provide a capable, educated and trained workforce will never attract the quality business and industries capable of creating a strong and sustainable economic foundation.

Again, we applaud those sponsor lawmakers, both Republican and Democrat, with the vision to realize the importance of workforce development.