Educational & Occupational
Training Opportunities
We have training opportunities for workers of all ages
in Northwest Arkansas
We would like to express our gratitude for your interest in our workforce initiatives. The information on this page will give you a general idea of our programs as well as the specifics you need to know about the tools and resources that the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) makes available to you. These tools and resources will help you better position yourself to find the kind of job that will be best for you and your future.
WIOA promotes alignment of workforce development programs with regional economic development strategies to meet the needs of local and regional employers. WIOA also authorizes programs for specific vulnerable populations, including the Job Corps, YouthBuild, Indian and Native Americans, and Migrant and Seasonal Farmworker programs as well as evaluation and multistate projects administered by the Department of Labor and replaces the Workforce Investment Act of 1998.
Workforce Programs
Youth Program
Our Youth program can help both in-school and out-of-school youth, and our targeted occupational and industry approach ensures you have the opportunity to receive training for an in-demand industry right here in Northwest Arkansas. The Youth Program is intended to prepare Arkansas’ youth for postsecondary education, training, or employment upon completion of their secondary education.
Adult Program
Do you want to learn a new skill? Need assistance determining which career path is best for you? Our Career Counselors are here to help you along your new journey. The Adult Program’s goal is to help people find long-term jobs in in-demand industries. This service is available based on eligible funding and service priority.
Dislocated Worker Program
Have you recently been laid off or dismissed from your job? The Dislocated Worker program can help you get back into the workforce with the skills you need to be successful in your future employment endeavors. The WIOA Dislocated Worker program provides employment and training services to eligible workers who are out of work due to no fault of their own or who have been given an official layoff notice.
National Dislocated Worker Grants
National Dislocated Worker Grants (DWGs), formerly known as National Emergency Grants (NEGs), are discretionary grants made available by the Secretary of Labor under WIOA Section 170. DWGs help states and other eligible applicants respond to large, unexpected layoff events that result in significant job losses.
Workforce Success Stories
Malone’s Road to Success
WIOA SUCCESS STORIES Ms. Brittany Malone inquired about the WIOA program after being out of work for a few years. She worked on temporary assignments, but nothing full-time and permanent. After an initial assessment, the Fayetteville Workforce Center staff deemed...
Small Business Success Story
WIOA SUCCESS STORIES Parmelee Homestead Creations is a small family business, based in Bella Vista, that sells jam, jelly, sauce, and salsas. The business is growing rapidly, selling nearly 600 jars per week. Becky Parmelee has taken advantage of our human resource...
Unemployment to Open Opportunity for Success
WIOA SUCCESS STORIES Carol Burgess experienced a lay off right before the pandemic started in March 2020. While filing for her unemployment benefits at the Workforce Center, she saw the poster of services available for Dislocated Workers through WIOA. Though scared,...
Forging a New Path After Successful Completion of CDL Training
WIOA SUCCESS STORIES Mark Knepp was ready to embark on a new chapter in his life. First, he would need to overcome several barriers. Mark had a criminal history, was staying in a homeless shelter and lacked transportation. He sought assistance to attend CDL training...
Tessa’s Path to Becoming a Veterinary Assistant
WIOA SUCCESS STORIES Tessa Anglin enrolled in the WIOA program as an Out of School Youth after being incarcerated. Through her own perseverance and supportive services provided through the WIOA training program and Petra Allied Health, she overcame many obstacles. ...
Three to Graduate from ASU Mountain Home PTA Program
WIOA SUCCESS STORIES These three young men, left to right, Lane Rogers (Adult), Brendan Casey (Adult) and Noah McSpadden (DLW) all started their college path in different areas but came together in the Physical Therapy Assistant program in Mountain Home through the...
WIOA Participant Reaches for the Stars
WIOA SUCCESS STORIES It is never too late in life to reach for the stars and find your dream job. Just ask Lynda who decided to change careers after her youngest child graduated. She left her employer after 12 years in pursuit of a new career in the entertainment...
Inspiring Story for Future Educator
Here is to another WIOA success story that is so inspiring! Sabrina is a single Mom to three. She took her first steps to further her career and better the lives of her family back in 2015 when she enrolled in the Business Administration/Emphasis in Management...
Off to the Races – Another WIOA Success Story!
April 22, 2019 - WIOA participant Nikita Fletcher has been accepted to the NASCAR Technical Institute in Mooresville, NC and will begin classes in August of 2019. This is an opportunity that few female mechanics receive, her goal is to complete the...