BLYTHEVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas Northeastern College (ANC) has received a significant boost to its manufacturing training programs with a donation from Tenaris totaling $200,000. The contribution consists of four advanced robotics machines, funds for installation, and annual scholarships, all aimed at fostering the local workforce in Mississippi County.
The machines were unveiled during a ceremony attended by ANC leaders, representatives from Tenaris, state officials, and Blytheville city leaders. The equipment, which mirrors the robotics used in Tenaris facilities, is intended to prepare students with practical skills required in the modern manufacturing industry.
Guillermo Moreno, President of Tenaris USA, emphasized the company’s commitment to education as a long-term investment in the community. “Our support to education is part of our values,” Moreno said. “At the same time, it’s an investment in the next generations. We really, really look forward to having some of these students working in our facilities one day.”
Tenaris, which has been a part of Mississippi County’s industrial landscape for nearly two decades, views workforce development as a critical part of its future. “All what we expect to do in the next 20 years will only be possible if we have the right people,” Moreno added, expressing a desire to recruit local talent trained directly on these machines.
The robotics equipment allows students to learn coding and operational skills, giving them hands-on experience with the same technology used in professional manufacturing settings. ANC President Christopher Heigle underscored the value of this training for both students and employers, saying, “It essentially gets them day one value for the facility, and we’re happy to play our role.”
Heigle also highlighted the significant growth in the college’s manufacturing and welding programs in recent years, noting Northeast Arkansas’s rising prominence in the state’s economic landscape. “We’re really excited to see, across the state, you’re right, Northwest Arkansas has been the narrative for so long. But what we know is that in 30 years, everybody’s going to be talking about what’s happening, what happened in Northeast Arkansas,” he said.
The donation marks another step in strengthening Mississippi County’s skilled workforce, aligning with regional efforts to support the growing manufacturing sector.