Five counties in Arkansas, including Searcy, have been selected to share in a grant of over $1 million.The U.S. Department of Labor, in partnership with the Delta Regional Authority, Workforce Opportunity For Rural Communities (WORC III) has selected Advocates for Community and Rural Education (also known as the Rural Community Alliance) for a grant of $1.05 million across three years.
Counties within the Arkansas Delta are ranked among the poorest in the nation. Career opportunities in this region can be difficult to secure. One solution is to provide workforce training in fast-growing industries and support remote work opportunities.
“Rural Community Alliance has partnered with the Forge Institute to bring entry-level IT and cybersecurity training to very rural communities in Arkansas. The training will mostly take place virtually, with local community buildings serving as the education hubs. These buildings will be retrofitted and equipped with necessary training supplies and virtual learning equipment. After participants are trained, the space will also serve as a location for remote cybersecurity and IT jobs for those residing in the community. This will allow individuals to become employed in a field that’s relevant and also allows them to remain located in their rural communities,” according to Candace Williams, executive director of Advocates for Community and Rural Education.
“Delta Regional Authority is proud to partner with the U.S. Department of Labor to award the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities grants,” says Delta Regional Authority Spokeswoman Shawna Blair. “The highly competitive initiative invests in programs that will provide valuable career training to marginalized communities. Advocates for Community and Rural Education will serve five Arkansas counties, providing opportunities for high quality careers in the high demand tech industry that will increase and diversify the State’s skilled workforce to make it more desirable for economic growth.”
The grant enables Forge Institute to offer its seven-week IT/Cyber Fundamentals and 14-week Cyber Training Bootcamp courses for free to more than 50 individuals from Ashley, Chicot, Phillips, Searcy and St. Francis counties.
Forge Institute’s Training Academy provides skills in a field projected to grow 33% from 2020 to 2030.4 “Cybersecurity is a rapid-growth industry,” explains Lee Watson, CEO of Forge Institute. “It’s also a field from which anyone can build a career with the proper training and desire. A college degree is not required to get started.”
The program targets individuals interested in upskilling and pursuing a career in IT/cybersecurity. The training will be made available virtually and led by Forge Institute’s expansive team of cyber experts. Participants should gain an understanding of information technology concepts and develop practical skills needed to succeed in an entry-level information technology or cybersecurity position.
In addition, individuals in the program will receive opportunities for hands-on training, including access to online training labs, participate in focused group discussions, and receive professional coaching from recognized industry leaders and potential employers. This all-encompassing training program was designed to increase participant employability and robust the supply of a skilled, workforce-ready pipeline for industry. In addition, each participant will be eligible to participate in a structured Career Readiness & Resume Workshop. Those that successfully complete the program, will have the knowledge, skills and abilities needed to enter the workforce in an entry-level information technology position.
Currently, there are thousands of unfilled cyber-related jobs within Arkansas — and over 465,000 in the United States. This demand is projected to grow 33% through the decade. Because a trained infosec professional can often work remotely, these jobs are accessible to rural Arkansans. Forge Institute’s training creates a skilled workforce that commands higher salaries, providing an economic boost to underserved communities.
But the impact on average households may be far greater.
“In the counties we’re assisting, we’re looking at a median household income of $20,595.80,” says Watson. “The training we provide can boost that household income up to $45,000. That’s a life altering pay upgrade and there is plenty of room to grow.”
Arkansans wishing to leverage this free opportunity should visit www.forge.institute/fundamentals and complete the application. Training begins in quarter one next year.
About Forge Institute
Forge Institute provides a number of workforce development courses and other offerings that empower our partners with cutting-edge technologies and capabilities to advance cyber operational objectives and enhance our national security posture. For more information, visit the Forge Institute at: www.forge.institute.
About Advocates for Community and Rural Education (RCA)
The mission of Rural Community Alliance is to empower rural communities to effect change by creating opportunities in education, economic development, and youth empowerment to improve quality of life and place. Learn more at www.thenewrural.org.
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