Gov. Hutchinson Touts Workforce Realignment Efforts

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by Roby Brock ([email protected]) March 17, 2015 1:29 pm 121 views 

Keeping with his campaign rhetoric, Gov. Asa Hutchinson met with reporters on Tuesday to tout three measures designed to realign workforce education efforts in Arkansas.

Surrounded by cabinet members and legislators who are promoting a workforce education overhaul, Hutchinson said four principles were guiding his efforts in passing legislation and reorganizing state agencies.

Hutchinson said his principles included:

  • Regionally, business and industry should guide job skill training programs;
  • Partnerships with two-year colleges, technical schools, and high schools were needed;
  • Funding for workforce training “has to follow” business and industry; and
  • State government agencies should be organized around these principles.

“What we’re doing is not novel. What we’re doing is critical,” Hutchinson said.

He noted that three bills in the legislature will achieve many of the principles he outlined.

SB 791 would establish regional boards within the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services. Hutchinson had touted 10 regional councils that he plans to fill with appointments of business leaders, if it passes. He advocated for a similar structure on the campaign trail in 2014.

Another bill, yet to be designated, is in draft form currently. It would provide grants to the Department of Higher Education and Department of Career Education for immediate job skills training.

Hutchinson said $15 million is immediately available from the Arkansas Economic Development Commission and other funding sources for this purpose for the two-year and technical schools. The governor said he planned to move another $2 million from discretionary funds within his control for grant programs for these higher ed partnerships.

A third measure, SB 368, would create an Office of Skills Development in the Department of Career Education to better coordinate state efforts.

In shaping a new Governor’s Cabinet on Workforce Education, Hutchinson indicated that he would not designate a subordinate to handle the task. He said he would lead the group and expected to see significant improvement in workforce efforts after the focus on the legislative session ends.