Arkansas Next PROS: Bulletin Board

Buzz in key industries, including hundreds of new jobs, scholarships and education opportunities.

Arkansas Governor Streamlines Workforce

Arkansas ACCESS was passed by Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders in 2025, which will fund post-secondary education and certificates for blue-collar jobs in the state. Projects include Dassault Falcon Jet in Little Rock, RTX Corp. in Camden, Walther Arms in Fort Smith, Taber Extrusions in Russellville and more.

Source: Arkansas Business

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Electronics Education Receives $1 Million to Increase Workforce

The Arkansas Division of Higher Education awarded $1 million to the University of Arkansas to expand electronics education for credit and non-credit courses. Students in the program will learn basic semiconductor skills, such as physics, chemistry, mathematics and data analysis. Jobs in this industry include design engineers, process engineers, equipment engineers, field service engineers and various technician roles like manufacturing technicians.

Source: arkansasresearch.uark.edu

Chevron Enters Lithium Extraction in Southwest Arkansas

Chevron U.S.A. Inc. recently acquired 125,000 acres in Northeast Texas and Southwest Arkansas (within the Smackover Formation) to extract lithium-rich brine, estimated to contain 5–19 million tons of lithium. This move marks Chevron’s first major entry into domestic lithium mining, strengthening the U.S. battery and critical mineral supply chain.

Source: chron.com

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Steel Co. Invests Millions in NEA

Zekelman Industries is building a $120 million Wheatland Tube plant in Blytheville, Arkansas, along with two Atlas Tube factories. The expansion intends to produce galvanized steel tubes and generate about 300 jobs locally.

Source: bizjournals.com

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200 New Jobs Coming to Osceola

Hybar is constructing a $700 million bar reinforcement (rebar) plant in Osceola, Arkansas, using advanced technology to produce rebar from recycled scrap metal. The project is expected to generate around 200 jobs, including 140 direct positions.

Source: bizjournals.com

$100M Aviation Expansion in Little Rock

Dassault is investing $100 million to expand its completion center at Little Rock’s Bill & Hillary Clinton National Airport. This expansion will create 800 new jobs and extend its lease through 2064. The facility supports the Falcon 6X and future jet lines. The project is supported by $12 million in incentives plus $6Ã¢¯million in workforce training, along with local tax rebates.

Source: expansionsolutionsmagazine.com

Hundreds of Manufacturing Jobs in Little Rock

Trex is building a $400 million manufacturing plant at the Port of Little Rock, expected to generate hundreds of jobs. Opportunities will range from entry-level production to management. Hiring has begun for key roles, with wider recruitment for production workers planned later this year.

Source: arkansasedu.com, apnews.com

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Arkansas Iron & Pipe Welding Academy

Located in Salem, this academy offers a 10-week structural welding program and a 20-week pipe and structural combo program. With a 1-to-10 instructor-to-student ratio and job placement assistance, graduates are prepared for field-ready careers.

Source: aipweldingacademy.com

National Park College

$6M HIRED Grant for National Park College

National Park College just received a $6 million HIRED grant from the Arkansas Department of Commerce. It’s slated to build a 12,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art welding and metalworking facility with advanced booths, outdoor workshops and tailored curriculum. The project doubles welding program capacity and is expected to open by fall 2026.

Source: np.edu

+ National Park College Offers Aerospace Manufacturing and Repair

National Park College in Hot Springs offers a 9-month certificate program designed to equip students with essential skills for the aerospace industry. The curriculum includes 135 hours of hands-on training in areas such as welding, CNC machining, laser cutting, blueprint drafting and inspection techniques. The program is tailored to meet the needs of Arkansas' aerospace employers.

Source: np.edu

Madison Ogle

SAU TECH Adds Robotics Emphasis to Engineering Technology Degree

Southern Arkansas University Tech has introduced an emphasis in Automated and Robotic Engineering within its Engineering Technology Associate of Applied Science degree. The program focuses on skills like automated machine programming and robotic system troubleshooting, aligning with industry needs. Students can pursue certification through FANUC Robotics modules.

Source: sautech.edu

Jacob Slaton

New Weyerhaeuser-TimberStrand® Structural Facility

Weyerhaeuser has begun groundbreaking on a $500 million TimberStrand® engineered wood plant in South Arkansas. This facility involves advanced structural engineering, materials science and precision manufacturing to produce high-strength laminated wood products for construction.

Source: arkansasedc.com