The University of Arkansas Pulaski Technical College is moving forward with plans for a $20 million workforce training center at the Port of Little Rock, officials announced last week. The facility is expected to expand access to industry-focused instruction and help prepare more workers for jobs in the region’s growing manufacturing and logistics sectors.
Funding for the project was included in fiscal year 2026 appropriations secured by U.S. Sen. John Boozman. The Little Rock Port Authority and the Little Rock Regional Chamber of Commerce are partners on the effort and helped shape early plans for the center.
The training center will be built on land provided by the Little Rock Port Authority next to its existing offices. The building is planned as an expandable, flexible space that can house modern classrooms and instructional equipment, dedicated areas for high-voltage lineman training, parking and a connected plaza.
Partnerships with local employers played a key role in shaping the design of the facility. Interviews conducted by the Little Rock Regional Chamber with area manufacturers representing thousands of workers identified priorities for workforce training. Those included customized programs with industry-specific equipment, proximity to Port operations, flexible scheduling, high-level technical instruction and space for professional development events. The new center’s layout is structured to support these needs and provide capacity for advanced manufacturing, robotics and automation instruction, and large-scale career fairs not currently offered in the region.
Unemployment in Arkansas and Pulaski County remains low, intensifying competition among employers for skilled workers. Economic data shows about 11,000 workers across 48 counties commute to the Port of Little Rock for jobs, with average monthly wages significantly higher than other regional opportunities. Officials say improving workforce readiness is key to supporting continued economic growth and attracting future investment.
UA-PTC serves as a key workforce education provider in central Arkansas, offering more than 80 accredited programs and hands-on training designed to prepare students for in-demand careers. It is part of the University of Arkansas System, which coordinates workforce response and training efforts across multiple two-year institutions statewide.
Construction on the training center is expected to begin after final approvals and selection of design and construction partners. When complete, the facility will become a central hub for technical skills development and an anchor for workforce education that supports both local companies and individuals pursuing in-demand careers.
Photo by Lyn Gateley, CC BY 2.0 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0, from Wikimedia Commons
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