Arkansas Two-Year College Green Technology Consortia

Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy Technology Education
The Arkansas Delta Workforce Innovations in Regional Economic Development (with funding from the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration) funded the Center of Excellence for Renewable Energy Technology Education at Phillips Community College of the UA.  The Center provides statewide support for renewable energy programs.  The Center is also supported through a Community-Based Job Training Grant from the U.S. Department of Labor to build capacity at the partner colleges of the Arkansas Delta Training & Education Consortium to teach Renewable Energy Technology programs developed through the Center.

 Building Science Centers of Excellence
Northwest Arkansas Community College and Pulaski Technical College were selected in 2009 to become Building Science Centers of Excellence, through a competitive grant application process of the Arkansas Economic Development Commission. These two colleges will develop and/or customize curriculum and deliver training for new energy auditors and various support technicians across Arkansas at their sites as well as the other two-year colleges.

AATYC Heart of Arkansas Regional Training (HART) Consortium
The AATYC Heart of Arkansas Regional Training (HART) Consortium was formed in 2009.  Two-year colleges with central Arkansas service area counties and manufacturing technology skills training have organized to provide new “green” industry training and to inject “green” methods/concepts into existing technical programs.

This developing consortium includes Pulaski Technical College, Arkansas State University-Beebe, Ouachita Technical College, UA Community College at Morrilton, National Park Community College, and Southeast Arkansas College.

Arkansas Energy Sector Partnership NEW in 2010
The Arkansas Energy Sector Partnership (AESP) will provide funding to enable Arkansas workers statewide to be trained in the skills required to succeed in green jobs.  Industries of Focus include: Energy Efficient Building, Construction, and Retrofitting; Renewable Electric Power; and Energy Efficiency Assessment.

AESP will enable the development and deployment of materials and programs that will be used by Arkansas’ 22 two-year colleges and 7 apprenticeship programs to prepare participants for careers in the targeted industries.  The three Energy Centers of Excellence will develop training that can be distributed statewide.  Training activities will include high school concurrent credit programs, college certificate and degree programs, incumbent worker training, apprenticeship programs, workshops for employed workers to gain green skills, and training for disadvantaged populations.

AESP partners include Arkansas Workforce Investment Board, Department of Workforce Services, Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges, Arkansas Apprenticeship Coalition, Arkansas State Office of Apprenticeship, Winrock International, Arkansas Department of Career Education, nine Regional Partnership Teams which include all ten Workforce Investment Boards, Non-Profits, and Energy Efficient and Renewable Energy Industries.

For more information on how AATYC can help you meet the “green” technology needs of your business, please contact Steve Lease at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or (479) 424-0071.

Additional Resources

Employer Survey

Loreal 2009 Sustainable Development Report

North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners

AEDC Energy Office Presentation

Arkansas Energy Sector Partnership Presentation

Arkansas Energy Efficiency Programs

Arkansas Weatherization Assistance Program

North Little Rock Sustainable Energy Actions