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Supported by the Office of Vocational and Adult Education
of the U.S. Department of Education
Workforce Alliance for Growth in the Economy
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Complete Profile
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Community type
Small town; population of 45,000

Location
El Dorado (Union County), Arkansas

Geographic region
South

Partners
South Arkansas Community College, One-Stop Center, Workforce Investment Board, state departments of employment security, human services, and economic development, Chamber of Commerce, local employers.

Population served
Adults needing pre-employment training and incumbent workers needing to upgrade their skills.

Lessons learned

  • State certification for local WAGE programs provides training and a structure, while encouraging flexibility to meet local needs and circumstances.

  • What makes the partnership work: a local tradition of community collaboration; active involvement of local employers; flexibility to accommodate changing labor market; strong leader and popular Advisory Group.

Partnership highlights

  • Surveys of businesses and Literacy Task Analyses conducted by WAGE allow services to be customized to workforce needs.

  • More than 51 percent of the Advisory Group are representatives of businesses; the group’s monthly meetings have become “the place to be” to keep informed of local events and connect with colleagues.

  • WAGE awards certificates (Employability, required of all WAGE graduates, Clerical, and Industrial) recognized as “a ticket to a job” by participants and “an inspection sticker” by employers.

  • WAGE blends best practices from adult education, workforce training, and economic development.

Resources
State adult education funds; in-kind support from community college and One-Stop Center; occasional financial contributions from businesses.

Supplemental Materials
Literacy Task Analysis for Cooper Tire & Rubber (PDF, 767kb)

Contact

Patricia Bates, Director of Adult Education
South Arkansas Community College
P.O. Box 7010
3696 East Main Road
El Dorado, Arkansas 71731-7180
1(800) 955-2289
pbates@southark.edu

www.aalrc.org

For general information on the state WAGE program and the Start Up Pack for New Wage Programs:

Carol Adams, Arkansas WAGE Coordinator
Three Capitol Mall
Luther Hardin Building
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
(501) 682-1970
carol.adams@mail.state.ar.us