Phase one of the Career Readiness Education and Skills Training (CREST) Center has entered its construction phase, with Arkansas State University spearheading the project in partnership with Arkansas State University-Newport and Arkansas Northeastern College (ANC) in Blytheville.
A construction celebration is scheduled for Friday, Oct. 16, at 8 a.m., at the construction site located at 201 Longhorn Dr., adjacent to the Judd Hill Farmers’ Market in Jonesboro. Attendees are advised to access the event via Red Wolf Boulevard to minimize traffic issues.
ASU System President Todd Shields emphasized the broader significance of the project. “This event marks the beginning of an investment that extends beyond a new building,” Shields said. “CREST will prepare Arkansans with the skills employers need today while creating pathways to rewarding careers that strengthen families, businesses, and local economies across our region.”
The CREST Center initiative is supported by a $7.5 million grant from the Arkansas Department of Commerce through its Higher Industry Readiness through Educational Development (HIRED) program. Additional financial contributions are coming from Craighead County, Jonesboro Unlimited, the Workforce Training Consortium, and Hytrol Conveyor Co.
The project aims to address the skilled workforce demands of Northeast Arkansas' rapidly growing industries. "CREST is designed to equip current and future workers with industry-aligned skills needed to succeed in Northeast Arkansas’ fastest-growing sectors while helping regional employers meet workforce demands,” ASU Chancellor Calvin White Jr. said.
According to Dr. Robin Myers, the CREST project lead and former ASU-Mountain Home chancellor, the first phase includes a 26,000-square-foot facility with an estimated cost of $17 million. The building, expected to be completed by spring 2027, will focus on training in steel technology, industrial controls, and advanced manufacturing. It will offer technical certificates, certificates of proficiency, and associate degrees.
“The phase one building will serve as a multi-purpose workforce training center featuring labs for advanced manufacturing, automation, and industrial technologies,” Myers said. The facility will also include classroom areas, a computer lab, a high-bay lab for manufacturing, collaborative meeting spaces, and other student-focused amenities.
The phased development will grow the CREST Center’s capabilities beyond its initial offerings. Phase two will focus on applied bachelor’s degrees in areas like food science, engineering technology, and technical studies. Phase three plans to support advanced steel research through the Center for Advanced Materials and Steel Manufacturing.
Andrea Allen, director of the Delta Center for Economic Development at Arkansas State University, highlighted CREST’s potential impact on the regional economy. “The CREST Center will be a catalyst for economic growth because it connects people to high-demand careers, supplies employers with skilled talent, and positions the region to compete for jobs and investment in the industries of the future,” Allen said.
Presently, some CREST classes are being held at the Workforce Training Center in the Industrial Park and on A-State's campus through the College of Agriculture and the College of Engineering and Computer Science. Classes in the new phase one building are slated to begin in fall 2027.