A new grant is helping expand access to job training and education programs across Arkansas, with a focus on reaching adult students and rural communities.
Goodwill Arkansas recently received $77,000 in scholarship funding through the Caterpillar Foundation and Google’s Career Certificates initiative. The funding will support programs offered through Goodwill’s Training and Education Centers.
“Access to workforce training should not depend on your ZIP code,” said Edie Stewart, senior vice president and chief mission officer of Goodwill Arkansas. “For many people in rural communities, online training can be the bridge between where they are and where opportunity is growing.”
The Training and Education Centers combine the Excel Center, an adult high school, with the Academy, which provides career certifications in fields such as IT support, data analytics, digital marketing, project management and artificial intelligence. Many of the programs are offered online, making them accessible to people in areas without nearby training options.
“There’s a lot of rural need,” said Kara Luther-Chapman, director of development and community engagement. “These online programs help provide education and job training access to communities that may not have in-person opportunities.”
For some students, the programs are already making an impact. Marisol Alvarado said enrolling in the Excel Center helped her improve her English and launch her own business.
“It really made a big impact in my skills and knowledge,” Alvarado said. “It gave me the courage to make my business grow.”
Goodwill officials say the goal is to continue expanding access to education and workforce training across the state, helping more Arkansans gain the skills needed for today’s job market.
More information is available at GoodwillTEC.org.
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