The University of Arkansas Cossatot has received a $100,000 grant from the Sunderland Foundation for renovations to the Lockesburg High School Campus for industrial technology training.
UA Cossatot Chancellor Steve Cole said, ““Just to be considered for a grant of this size is quite an honor, so to receive $100,000 to create even more opportunities for highly-technical training is unbelievable.”
The renovation will allow adequate training space for “multi-craft” workers in the manufacturing sector, within UA Cossatot’s tri-county service area. The completed project will provide the potential to produce quality graduates, trained in a safe environment, equipped with all the tools needed to be successful. Graduates will earn industry recognized credentials, accreditation, National Registry through NCCER, and the soft skills that are needed to be successful in an industrial technology field.
The Sunderland Foundation is the granting arm of Ash Grove Cement Company. Once the renovation project is complete, the Industrial Technology training area of the Lockesburg building will be named the “Ash Grove Center for Industrial Technology.”
According to the Sunderland Foundation’s website, “The Foundation prefers to make grants for capital and special projects rather than for annual operating expenses.
Grants for building construction, renovation, repairs and restoration of facilities are considered. Areas of interest include higher education, youth serving agencies, health facilities, community buildings, museums, civic projects, and low maintenance, energy efficient housing projects sponsored by qualified tax-exempt organizations.”
UAC Skilled and Technical Sciences Division Chair Steve McJunkins said, “What an exciting time this is for students and instructors in our Industrial Technology/Electricity programs. This grant will open a door of opportunity to develop a first class facility in which to train future generations of advanced manufacturing and industrial maintenance workers with the high level skill sets needed in today's technology based industries.”