SHRM Foundation awarded $1.5 million workforce grant for Craighead and Union counties

The SHRM Foundation has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from the U.S. Department of Labor’s Workforce Opportunities for Rural Communities (WORC) program to launch an initiative in Arkansas, “Keeping It Local: Employers Driving Good Jobs in Rural Arkansas.”

This project, developed through a coalition of community partners, aims to address workforce challenges and create sustainable job opportunities for historically underserved populations in Union and Craighead counties.

The “Keeping It Local” initiative targets census tracts near Jonesboro and El Dorado, two communities identified as disadvantaged by the Climate and Economic Justice screening tool. These counties face significant employment barriers, such as high unemployment rates, racial disparities, untreated mental health concerns, transportation shortages, and limited access to quality jobs have historically impacted these areas.

The SHRM Foundation’s 2023 research, funded by the Arkansas Department of Education’s Workforce program, highlighted the challenges for workers without traditional degrees and those from historically undervalued populations. Building on this work, “Keeping It Local” will address these issues at scale by empowering employers, workforce partners, and educators to lead community-wide efforts to develop long-term interventions that create economic mobility.

“This initiative goes beyond creating jobs — it’s about empowering employers to drive meaningful change within their communities. By focusing on economic mobility and addressing barriers for underserved populations, we are setting the stage for long-term, sustainable success,” said Wendi Safstrom, President of the SHRM Foundation. “The SHRM Foundation is proud to collaborate with dedicated partners in Arkansas to bring ‘Good Jobs Principles’ to life, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to thrive in the workplace and beyond.”

The program will prioritize access to better jobs for women, people of color, veterans, individuals with disabilities, justice-involved individuals, and those living below the poverty line. Through funding provided to both employer and community cohorts, the initiative will create joint and individual projects that focus on empowering these groups, improving access to quality jobs, and addressing critical wrap-around needs.

In addition to supporting immediate job creation, the SHRM Foundation will work to ensure the program’s lasting impact by developing case studies, creating employer training resources, and building sustainable community coalitions. This project will provide employers with the tools and support necessary to lead change and foster economic growth by addressing workforce inequities.

Arkansas State University, Education Design Lab, Good Jobs Institute, Jonesboro Unlimited, and Northeast Arkansas Workforce Development partnered on the project. They were joined by 40 local businesses.