CREST showcase slated for Judd Hill Farmer’s Market
by October 13, 2025 12:19 pm 238 views
Plans continue to unfold for the Career Readiness Education and Skills (CREST) center at Arkansas State University and a showcase featuring the program will be held Wednesday (Oct. 15) at the Judd Hill Farmer’s Market.
CREST is a partnership with ASU-Newport and Arkansas Northeastern College in Blytheville that began earlier this year.
“CREST offers opportunities in steel technology, industrial controls, engineering technology and food science. Deans, instructors, industry partners and CREST administration will be available to discuss different pathways with community members,” said Natalie Draper, director of CREST marketing and outreach.
Although the center’s building is still in the planning phases, Draper said they want the community to understand what CREST is and what the development of this program will mean for the area.
“Phase one portion of this project will allow us to deliver a variety of industrial training courses and programs to the Jonesboro campus,” said Dr. Robin Myers, who is consulting on the project due to his experiences as the former president of Arkansas Northeastern College and having recently served as interim president of the ASU System. “This phase will consist of approximately 20 to 25,000 square feet and will contain classrooms and labs for electricity and electronics, industrial mechanical drives, programmable logic controls, industrial motor controls, robotics, and industrial process controls.”
Draper said CREST will be more than just a facility, the development of this program is an investment in the region’s future.
“The showcase will allow us to demonstrate the hands-on learning and workforce skills students gain through CREST programs. We can use this opportunity to show how CREST pathways lead directly to in-demand careers in Northeast Arkansas,” said Draper. “This will be a dedicated space to train the next generation of skilled workers in fields that directly align with the region’s growing industries, such as steel, food science and advanced manufacturing.”