The ongoing construction of the Career Readiness Education and Skills Training (CREST) Center reached a significant milestone on Friday as community members, industry leaders, and educators gathered to celebrate its progress on the Arkansas State University (A-State) campus in Jonesboro.
Located near the intersection of Aggie Road and Red Wolf Boulevard, the center is designed to strengthen workforce development in Northeast Arkansas by fostering collaboration between educational institutions and local industries.
“By connecting education and training to the needs of our region’s employers, we are creating pathways for students and working adults to gain valuable skills, earn stackable credentials, and advance their careers,” said Calvin White Jr., Arkansas State University chancellor. He emphasized that the project also aims to equip regional industries with a skilled workforce necessary for economic growth.
The initiative unites A-State, Arkansas State University-Newport (ASU-Newport), and Arkansas Northeastern College in a shared effort to address workforce needs in the region. ASU-Newport Chancellor Ike Wheeler highlighted the importance of collaboration in driving meaningful change.
“CREST represents more than a brick-and-mortar structure; it is the embodiment of a shared dream brought to life through collaboration, partnership, and the desire to create opportunities for others,” Wheeler said.
Dr. Chris Heigle, president of Arkansas Northeastern College, noted the success of regional workforce development programs, particularly in the steel industry, and expressed pride in expanding those opportunities to Jonesboro in partnership with the CREST Center.
“For nearly 40 years, Arkansas Northeastern College has worked shoulder to shoulder with the steel industry preparing students for careers that not only change lives, but strengthen families and communities,” Heigle said. “We are proud to bring that opportunity to Jonesboro.”
The first phase of the CREST project is funded through a $7.5 million grant from the Arkansas Department of Commerce’s Higher Industry Readiness through Educational Development (HIRED) program. Additional funding has been secured from regional organizations and government partners, including Craighead County, Jonesboro Unlimited, Workforce Training Consortium, and Hytrol Conveyor Co.
Hytrol Conveyor Co., a founding industry partner of the CREST Center, will play an advisory role to ensure workforce training aligns with real-world employer needs. Philip Poston, Hytrol’s chief administrative officer, expressed optimism about the facility’s visibility and impact.
“Thousands of families, students, and visitors will travel down Red Wolf Boulevard and see the CREST building and want to learn more about it,” Poston said. “My hope is that a high school student drives by with their parent and wants to learn more about manufacturing and sees it not just as a job, but as a career built around technology, automation, robotics, and advanced skills.”
Speakers at the ceremony included Arkansas Congressman Rick Crawford, Dr. Will McLean, A-State provost and executive vice chancellor, and Craighead County Judge Marvin Day. Judge Day underscored the center’s potential to expand educational and job opportunities in the region.
“Through facilities like this, it gives young adults a place to start to move themselves forward, and that is what we are here to do,” Day said. “Our young adults need the opportunity to have a better job than what a high school diploma alone can provide.”
The event’s speakers reflected a shared commitment to transforming local lives and economies through education. Wheeler highlighted the long-term impact of the project, stating, “Together, this structure and this program will build more than careers; they are crafting futures, transforming generations, and creating an economic impact that will endure.”