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UA - Pulaski Tech's Career Climb Program partnership with the City of Little Rock prepares next generation workforce

Five students celebrated their graduation from the University of Arkansas – Pulaski Technical College’s (UA-PTC) Career Climb for Advanced Manufacturing program and City of Little Rock’s Career Climb Internship program July 24, marking the completion of a six-week training program designed to prepare young adults for careers in the skilled trades.

The ceremony took place at UA-PTC’s Little Rock – South site and celebrated the students who completed 192 hours of training focused on workplace skills, safety, financial literacy, customer service, conflict resolution, team-building, resume writing, and other aspects of succeeding at a job.

The program is a partnership between UA-PTC, Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., and the City of Little Rock’s Career Climb Program, and the University of Arkansas System Workforce Center (housed at Arkansas Economic Development Institute). Career Climb is a community-supported initiative aimed at addressing the growing need for skilled employees as the baby boomer generation retires from the workforce. “As the baby boomers age out of the workforce, there is a growing need for young employees with the skills and work habits to be productive partners for economic growth,” according to a statement from the City of Little Rock.

Throughout the program, graduates participated in industry tours, mock interviews, and engaged with guest speakers from Little Rock-area industry partners. The graduates earned several certifications that qualify them for entry-level manufacturing work: OSHA 10, which provides a comprehensive introduction to workplace safety regulations; the ACT National Career Readiness Certificate, which assesses foundational skills like applied math and graphic literacy; and the Future Fit or Advanced Manufacturing certificate, a 96-hour course covering technical skills such as blueprint reading and machine operations, as well as professional communications and critical thinking.

The wide-ranging curriculum also included sessions led by UA-PTC college presenters, such as Robbie Gill from Career Services, who provided instruction on resume writing, interviewing skills, and emotional intelligence. The students also received a math refresher course and took the WorkKeys test, which measures foundational skills and aptitudes relevant to the workplace, with guidance from UA-PTC Director of Testing Services Dee Smith. Students also learned about financial aid from UA-PTC Director of Financial Aid Robert Ellard. Other topics included email etiquette, time management, and stress management, led by UA-PTC Professional Development Training Coordinator Mary Gall.

Industry tours with local employers Essick Air and Dassault Falcon Jet provided firsthand experience, while guest speakers and mock job interviews from companies such as 3M, Elopak, EssickAir, Lexicon, Revolution, Ring Container, and Union Pacific gave students insight into various career paths.

“Our Career Climb partnership with UA-PTC is a great example of innovative collaboration to improve the lives of young people in our community,” said Mayor Scott. “This rigorous workforce training initiative is a pathway to better job opportunities and a stronger economy. We hope to continue to grow this valuable partnership and provide meaningful opportunities in the job market for youth and young adults.”

This skilled workforce training project is the third demonstration by the UA System Workforce Center. Its effort brings more than 500 degrees and certificates in high-demand careers offered from all campuses across the UA System together into one place, so that they can be “lifted and shifted” from one campus to any other UA campus in any area of the state that needs the training to meet the unique and immediate economic development needs of that area.

“This is a true “earn and learn” program and wonderful partnership with the City of Little Rock and the University of Arkansas System Workforce Center. I was also very impressed by the enthusiasm from the Little Rock Chamber of Commerce and our industry partners” said, Summer DeProw, Chancellor at UA-PTC. “At the end of the six weeks, all interns were either going to college this fall or had job offers from an industry partner. Overall, the program was wildly successful and we are looking forward to our next cohort.”

The City of Little Rock’s Career Climb Program, which offers a diverse range of career opportunities, internships, and apprenticeships, has shifted from a city-sponsored model to a community-supported one, aims to create sustainable, long-term partnerships with local businesses to develop future talent. This new approach, according to the city, "strengthens our local economy by aligning educational growth with real-world business needs.”

Research indicates that youth who participate in part-time work during the school year and summer employment programs have a stronger attachment to the labor market. The City of Little Rock’s Career Climb Program places participants with business partners who provide a supervisor to advise and assist with work assignments, teaching them the value of earning a wage and building employability skills. The city also provides mentors to ensure a safe and enjoyable work environment for both employers and youth employees.

Businesses interested in participating in the City of Little Rock’s Career Climb Program can contact Monica Montgomery at (501) 399-3420 or [email protected].

Pictured left to right: Melissa Hendricks, UA-PTC Vice Chancellor of Advancement and Executive Director of the UA-PTC Foundation; Monica Montgomery, City of Little Rock Community Programs Career Workforce Development Coordinator, Department of Community Programs; Kendra Pruitt, CEO & Founder of Solution Seekers (previous Chief of Staff to Mayor Frank Scott Jr.); Dr. Summer Deprow, UA-PTC Chancellor; Mayor Frank Scott Jr., Mayor of Little Rock; Joycelyn Randle, Current Chief of Staff to Mayor Frank Scott Jr.; Jennifer Glasglow, City of Little Rock Chief Education Officer; Jacque Eaves, City of Little Rock Community Programs Resources Manager, Department of Community Programs, and Sharon Cantrell, UA-PTC Business and Industry Center Executive Director