Springdale-based nonprofit Business and Industry Training (BIT) recently received a $43,000 grant from the Arconic Foundation to purchase automated electrical training systems and multimedia course materials.
BIT Director Julie McAllaster said the new systems are integrated with visual detection, which enables the robot to see and “makes production faster, smarter and more reliable.” The new systems will be installed at BIT’s Springdale location.
“We are incredibly grateful to Arconic Foundation for their continued commitment to workforce development,” McAllaster said. “This funding allows us to better serve our local manufacturers by delivering high-quality, industry-relevant training that supports employee advancement and regional economic growth.”
Arconic Foundation invests in the communities of Arconic Corp., the parent company of Kawneer. The company’s Springdale plant manufactures architectural systems for building facades.
“Arconic Foundation is proud to support workforce training programs that prepare individuals for meaningful careers in advanced manufacturing,” said Charles Hunter, Arconic Foundation ambassador at Arconic’s Kawneer facility in Springdale. “Through partnerships like this, we aim to build stronger communities and empower workers with the skills they need to succeed in today’s evolving industrial landscape.”
BIT has eight employees at its locations in Springdale and Gentry.