Arkansas Workforce Development Board January 2026 Meeting

Our board members and staff work together to assess and align services and programs under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). We strive to identify how best we can serve those seeking education, training, and employment. We are responsible for overseeing the management and performance of the workforce system under WIOA and for conducting strategic planning to ensure the workforce system meets the needs of employers and job seekers. The meeting will include a special report on Arkansas's cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Labor to operate the American Manufacturing Apprenticeship Incentive Fund, a $35.8 million initiative aimed at expanding high-quality Registered Apprenticeship programs in advanced manufacturing across the country. This cooperative agreement with DOL is spearheaded by the Arkansas Department of Commerce, Division of Workforce Services, and is designed to stimulate nation-wide Registered apprenticeship adoption by providing incentive funding for manufacturers of all sizes to build and expand apprenticeship pipelines.