BRTC Receives Regional Workforce Grant

Students working in the Automotive Department

POCAHONTAS, AR July 14–BRTC has been selected as a recipient in the next round of funding from the Regional Workforce Grant.  This time the focus of the grant was on two areas. The first is transportation, with requests focusing on transportation sectors such as CDL, and Automotive/Collision Repair, Diesel Technology, Aviation Maintenance/Repair. The second area is advanced manufacturing, including Robotics, Mechatronics, CNC, Machining, Industrial Technology, and Renewable Energy.

BRTC was approved for funds for both of these areas in the total amount of $650,000.00 dollars.

The Auto Collision Technology department will be receiving $150,000.00 dollars to purchase a new automobile frame repair machine to replace the current machine that has been in use for 35+ years now.  This will help modernize the program and update the students\’ training on cutting-edge technology that they will be working with in the field once they graduate from BRTC.

The Machine Tool Technology department will be receiving $500,000.00 dollars to purchase multiple pieces of machinery for both the Pocahontas and Paragould machine shop labs.  This will include nine new Sharp manual lathes (eight for Pocahontas and one for Paragould), two new manual end mills (one for each campus), and one new Okomoto surface grinder.