Cossatot renames testing center in honor of Domtar paper mill

The University of Arkansas Cossatot in Ashdown, Ark., recently honored the Domtar mill in Ashdown by renaming the testing center on the Little River campus of Cossatot to Domtar Center for Workforce Excellence.

“University of Arkansas Cossatot has commemorated more than $1 million dollars of educational support and more than 15 years of partnership with the Domtar mill in Ashdown by renaming the testing center on the Little River campus to Domtar Center for Workforce Excellence,” according to a statement from Cossatot officials.

“The workforce center in Ashdown has been the site of extensive industry training and testing financed largely by the generosity of Domtar industries,” Cossatot Chancellor Steve Cole said.

UA Cossatot hosted a renaming reception on its Ashdown campus on Friday to unveil signage and offer an opportunity for local and state officials, Domtar and UA Cossatot leadership to meet.

“It is partnerships like these that will be vital to the well-being of higher education in the future,” said University of Arkansas System President Don Bobbitt.

“The investment of time and money into UA Cossatot has been a huge factor in the improvement and continual growth of the workforce benefiting all of Little River County, not just Domtar,” Domtar General Manager Bob Grygotis said.

The reception was also attended by UA Cossatot staff member Susan Bobbitt, Little River County Judge Mike Cranford, Domtar Manager of Communications and Government Relations Tammy Waters, Domtar Operations Manager Steve Smith, Domtar Human Resources Manager Mark Campbell, Domtar Training and Development Manager Jimmy Ivers, Domtar Safety Manager Jason Young, former State Sen. Barbara Horn, Arkansas Community Colleges Director of the Center for Workforce Kyla Waters and Ashdown School District Superintendent Jason Sanders.