Cossatot Community College of the University of Arkansas received a $100,000 grant from the Sunderland Foundation for the renovation of the Lockesburg, Ark., High School campus for industrial technology training.
"It was an honor just to be considered for a grant of this size, but to receive $100,000 was unbelievable. These funds will be used to create more opportunities for highly technical training," UA Cossatot Chancellor Dr. Steve Cole said.
"The renovation of the Lockesburg High School will allow training space for 'multi-craft' workers in the manufacturing sector, within UA Cossatot's tri-county service area. The completed project will provide the potential to produce quality graduates, trained in a safe environment, equipped with all the tools needed to be successful. Graduates will earn industry recognized credentials, accreditation, and the soft skills that are needed to be successful in an industrial technology field," Cole said.
The Sunderland Foundation issues grants on behalf of Ash Grove Cement Co. Once the renovation project is complete, the industrial technology training area of the Lockesburg building will be named the Ash Grove Center for Industrial Technology.
The foundation prefers to make grants for capital and special projects rather than for annual operating expenses. Grants for building construction, renovation, repairs and restoration of facilities are considered. Areas of interest include higher education, youth serving agencies, health facilities, community buildings, museums, civic projects and low-maintenance, energy-efficient housing projects that are sponsored by qualified tax-exempt organizations, according to the Sunderland Foundation's website.
"This grant will open a door of opportunity for UA Cossatot to develop a first-class facility in which to train future generations of advanced manufacturing and industrial maintenance workers with the high-level skill sets that's needed in today's technology based industries," said Steve McJunkins, UA Cossatot's Skilled and Technical Sciences Division chairman.