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Boozman, Hill and UA-PTC plot career and education opportunities for youth

Senator John Boozman (R-AR) and Representative French Hill (R-AR) visited the Little Rock Job Corps Center Aug. 10 to tour the campus and discuss expanding career and educational opportunities for Arkansas youth. Boozman and Hill were joined by ODLE Management Group, LLC, the operator of the Little Rock Job Corps Center, and key academic leaders from UA-Pulaski Tech, to learn more about a proactive partnership between the Little Rock Job Corps Center and UA-PTC.

Every year, the Little Rock Job Corps Center and UA-PTC serve a combined 9,800 young people. Both entities provide education and career skills training to youth and adults to prepare Arkansans to find quality jobs and become contributing members of their communities. The Little Rock Job Corps Center and UA-PTC will be working proactively to establish a formal articulation agreement that will increase student retention; serve more underserved, undereducated youth; expand career options with in-demand industries; expand two-year and four-year college opportunities; and generate more employable young adults.

“Job Corps programs are critical to workforce development in our state. Providing access to skilled training helps Arkansans succeed in the 21st century job market,” Senator Boozman said. “I’m pleased to learn more about collaboration between the Little Job Corps Center and Pulaski Technical College. This partnership is another step in the right direction to improving student retention in the Job Corps program and expanding career opportunities for Arkansans.”

“UA-PTC is very excited about the collaborative partnership with the Little Rock Job Corps,” said UA-PTC Chancellor Margaret Ellibee. “This partnership expands both career and educational pathways that mean tangible economic success for participating students who then become well-trained new employees for our metro workforce. By offering high demand training certificates, as well as technical related associate degrees, students win educationally, economically, and have the opportunity to develop to their full potential.”

“Growing our workforce and expanding its effectiveness must be a top agenda item across the board in Arkansas. We need the nonprofit sector, businesses, and the public pulling in same direction,” said Congressman Hill. “The Job Corps has the potential to play a major role in providing life-changing work training for young adults. I’m happy to work with Little Rock Job Corps leaders to ensure that we are maximizing resources to empower Arkansans to be self-sufficient.”

“We are so humbled that both Senator Boozman and Representative Hill visited us at the Little Rock Job Corps Center,” Lisa Odle, President and CEO of ODLE Management Group, LLC said. “More importantly, we are incredibly excited that they both joined Pulaski Technical College to embark on a really important conversation to strengthen and expand Job Corps’ trade offerings from eight industries to over 30 career pathways in collaboration with UA - Pulaski Technical College.”