Call for Employers: Join Us in Building Arkansas’s Advanced Energy Workforce
The challenge of finding skilled, reliable talent is real. For the past three years, Arkansas Advanced Energy (AAE) has been working to address this challenge through collaboration with industry leaders, strategic funding partnerships, and pilot workforce efforts. The result is SkillStream, a new workforce initiative designed specifically for advanced energy employers in Central Arkansas.
SkillStream builds an employer-driven talent pipeline by connecting companies directly to job-ready candidates using existing grant funding and partner resources. The program reduces hiring barriers while strengthening Arkansas’ long-term workforce capacity.
The initiative is powered by experienced Arkansas-based community and training partners that will soon recruit, support, and train candidates based on employer input and curriculum guidance. This will ensure participants develop the exact skills companies need, allowing employers to access pre-trained talent while helping workers move into high-quality careers.
With funding secured and partners in place, AAE is now selecting a core group of employer partners in energy auditing, HVAC and building controls and solar installation for SkillStream’s initial rollout. Employers who are interested can book a no-commitment, 30-minute brief introductory call with April Ambrose, Director of Workforce Development, to determine if the program is a good fit.
SkillStream is a long-term investment in Arkansas’ energy workforce that saves employers time, supporting job seekers, and building a stronger talent pipeline for the industry. Together, Arkansas can build the workforce needed to power the state’s energy future.
“I just wanted to say thank you for everything you’re doing. I genuinely appreciate you taking a stand for the industry. HVAC controls and energy efficiency play a huge role in our economy, and I think what you’re pushing for really matters. Creating proper training and clear career paths for people entering this field is critical, and I love that you’re working to bring new education opportunities to our state and partnering with colleges to embed these programs. From my point of view, this is exactly the direction we need to be going.”