Groundbreaking held at Advanced Manufacturing Training Center
EL DORADO — A “vision of the community and local industries,” is one step closer to reality.
On Friday, South Arkansas Community College, state, local, regional and business leaders gathered for the groundbreaking of the Charles A. Hays Advanced Manufacturing Training Center, to be located at the school’s East Campus behind the Center for Workforce Development, 3698 E. Main Road.
Collaboration, community, contributions, commitment, coordination and cooperation – were words used by Dr. Barbara Jones, president of SouthArk; Steve Cousins, chair of the SouthArk board of trustees; Greg Withrow, chair of the SouthArk Foundation board and plant manager of El Dorado Chemical; Chris Masingill, chair of the Delta Regional Authority and Jorge Ayala, regional director of the Economic Development Administration – as they talked about the need for the facility, how and why organizations have donated for the center and the way the community, state, local and regional entities have worked together to make the vision a reality.
Dayco Construction of Damascus, was awarded the contract for the new facility and CADM Architecture of El Dorado designed the facility. Jones said she is hopeful, that by January or February, everyone will be invited back “here on the hill” to attend the ribbon cutting for the completed center.
The Systems Group, in honor of the late Charles A. Hays, founder of the business, donated $250,000 in his honor to help fund construction of the new 14,000-squarefoot training center, which will include a 4,500-square-foot covered bay. Including the high-tech equipment housed there, the project will total more than $3 million.
Sons of Charles Hays, Chuck Hays Jr. is now co-owner and chief executive officer of the business and Michael Hays is co-owner and chief operating officer. The Systems Group is an industrial construction, maintenance and fabrication business headquartered in El Dorado.
The new training facility will have space for advanced welding, process technology, industrial technology:
mechatronics, industrial safety and rail-car and tanker loading, among others, Jones told the crowd.
She said the idea for the project started about eight years ago, when college officials visited local and area plants to determine their employee needs. The new center will not only provide up-to-date education for a trained workforce, but students will also receive safety training and advanced skills now required to acquire and maintain high-paying industrial and technical jobs.
“A strong and trained workforce will help the local and state’s economy grow and will help South Arkansas recruit new businesses. Thanks to our business leaders who helped determine the curriculum” needed for a well trained workforce, Jones said.
It will be utilized both for credit programs and non-credit programs. Workforce development needs drove the project, Jones said. “The manufacturing sector is one of the area’s largest employers, including the chemical, timber, paper and petroleum industries. Technological advancements in these industries require more and different training for modern skilled jobs,” and the new facility will help SouthArk provide that training. Many other entities also contributed to the venture, Jones said, including federal, state and private.
“Workforce development, training and education are key priorities for the Delta Regional Authority,” DRA chairman Chris Masingill said during Friday’s groundbreaking
event. The DRA contributed more than $200,000 toward the project. “DRA has placed increased emphasis on building a skilled workforce that will be a top driver for economic growth in the region so that our workers are trained for jobs in the 21st century and our businesses are prepared to compete nationally and globally,” Masingill said.
The federal Economic Development Administration granted nearly $790,000 to the project. “EDA recognizes the strong relationship between a skilled workforce and economic growth, which is why an investment with the AMTC was imperative,” Ayala said.
“This EDA investment will make the critical improvements needed to serve the surrounding communities paving the way, through skilled training programs, to spur and facilitate critical job growth in the region. The local support, coupled with the assistance of Southwest Arkansas Planning and Development District, are the primary reasons such a critical investment became reality for the region,” Ayala said.
The Southeast Arkansas Planning and Development District, the City of El Dorado and the SouthArk Foundation provided funds as well. Georgia-Pacific Crossett Paper Operations, El Dorado Chemical, Lion Oil- Delek, TETRA Technologies, Great Lakes Solutions, Union County and Martin Resource Management also were among the contributors.
The project received a $300,000 “hands-on” grant from the City of El Dorado and Union County crews have helped with groundwork
for the new building. Arkansas governors Mike Beebe and now Asa Hutchinson have both endorsed the project and have helped SouthArk receive funding for the training center.
The training center will include three furnished classrooms, four offices, storage space and two large bays – a 60-foot-by60-foot reconfigurable, multi-high-bay space and a 30-foot-by-60-foot bay for hand tools and advanced welding training. The new building will facilitate the training of incumbent and future manufacturing employees to successfully fill existing and impending vacancies, Jones said.
“Regional industry leaders anticipate the need for many manufacturing-related workers in south Arkansas in the next five years,” she said. “A unique and strong collaboration exists between SouthArk and south Arkansas industries, which have helped to develop and design the AMTC facility and have provided input on the curriculum.
Not only will the new training center help companies fill open positions, but it will create incentive for employers to start or expand their operations in and around Union County.
“El Dorado, Union County and the college take problems headon” and work to find solutions to provide a qualified, trained workforce for the plants in this area,” Withrow said, adding, “We don’t give up here, we make things work.”
Masingill congratulated SouthArk, local and area businesses and leaders for securing grant money for the project and for establishing a working curriculum and
classes to create highly skilled employees. “These are the types of projects Delta Regional Authority” looks for when they grant funding requests for projects. “Thank you for being the type of community that steps up to help businesses,” he said.
“Incredible projects happen when incredible businesses, industries, communities and educational centers” work together. “Thanks for the commitment to create opportunities for our children and grandchildren. We come alongside local communities and the DRA partners with leaders at local levels to build in rural areas. Investments (for this project) from the DRA, AEDC (Arkansas Economic Development Commission) and industries – it’s amazing,” he said.
Masingill also told college officials that he uses SouthArk as a model for success when he talks to companies and industries about expanding their businesses. “Thanks to the college and legislative leaders,” he said. He described the new training center as a “model project to provide workforce training and education,” in response to needs of local businesses and the community.
“Collaboration is needed for projects like this – it will be a success,” Ayala said. Applying for grants for projects through the EDA is a competitive process and Arkansas competes within a five-state area. He offered congratulations to SouthArk for celebrating 25 years and said the groundbreaking “is a great way to start the next 25.”