SkillStream Community Partners Call Scheduled for Aug. 21
The Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation (AAEF), is proud to launch SkillStream—a local, employer-driven initiative to build a skilled workforce for Arkansas’s fast-growing energy industry. In partnership with Metroplan and the City of Fort Smith, and funded by EPA, we are implementing SkillStream in the Central Arkansas and Fort Smith metro areas.
As a trusted workforce partner serving Central Arkansas, AAEF invites your organization to join us at the upcoming free SkillStream Community Partners Call to be held on Thursday, August 21st from 10am-11am. This call will provide a summary of results from the Central Arkansas Energy Employer Workforce Needs Assessment and detail how you can be involved in Central Arkansas’ workforce training and hiring pipeline. We will discuss opportunities for public and community organizations to engage further in SkillStream, like providing candidates for training, candidate support services, workforce resources, training program development, etc.
SkillStream Community Partners Call (virtual)
Thursday, August 21, 2025
10 a.m. - 11 a.m.
Next Steps
After that call, the next Central Arkansas SkillStream event will be held on October 21st when we will host an Energy Industry Exposure Expo to showcase workforce opportunities to students and job seekers as part of AAEA’s EmPower Arkansas Conference and Expo. Then we hope to begin coordinating and funding the specific programs to train and hire Arkansans!
If your organization also serves the Fort Smith area, the Fort Smith SkillStream Employer Forum is being held September 16. For that event, we encourage you to:
Provide digital resources for employers in a virtual Fort Smith Resource Folder. During the event, we will highlight your resources and provide a QR code for them to access the folder.
Share the event with your employer contacts. Everything you should need for newsletters, socials, etc. is available here in our media kit.
You can engage in AAEF’s workforce efforts now, like AAEA Membership, SkillSync, SkillSeekers, signing up for our AAEA General Newsletter, and more!
What is SkillStream?
SkillStream is an Advanced Energy Career Pipeline Program designed to develop a steady flow of diverse, job-ready talent for employers with an address in the Central Arkansas metro area (includes Pulaski, Faulkner, Perry, Lonoke, Saline, and Grant counties). Our nationally-recognized seven-phase SkillStream model includes:
Ecosystem mapping
Employer forums
Candidate sourcing via trusted local partners
Exposure events and career fairs
Short-term training programs with stipends
Employer-led hiring and work-based learning
Ongoing career support and coaching
Why SkillStream?
The advanced energy sector—which includes renewable energy, energy efficiency (HVAC, weatherization, controls – especially to meet 2026 residential rebates from HOMES/HEEHRA), electric vehicles, energy storage, and related manufacturing—is growing rapidly, both nationwide and here in Arkansas. In 2022, clean energy jobs in Arkansas increased by 4.5%, outpacing national employment growth and is expected to continue outpacing the national average. Even better, salaries are significantly higher than the state median wage with almost half not requiring a college degree.
However, the pathways into these careers are often disjointed or unclear—especially for individuals who may lack access to information or support. Employers face challenges finding qualified workers, while many young jobseekers are unsure how to begin.
AAEF has already proven this model can work with existing partners:
Registered over 50 apprentices (including first in the state and nation types)
Reimbursed over $200,000 in employer training costs
Held 200+ employer meetings and launched multiple collaborative committees
Aligned industry needs with state licensure, certifications, and funding sources
Provided career coaching to over 200 Arkansans
Recap: Our First SkillStream Employer Forum
We’ve secured the funding and are identifying employer workforce needs. Now we need your help to connect existing and new programs to meet industry demand. For questions in the meantime, please contact us at workforce@arkansasadvancedenergy.com.
Together, we can ensure that Central Arkansas’ workforce meets the moment—and fuels a thriving, future-ready energy economy.
Still have questions?
Please contact April Ambrose, Director of Workforce Development for the Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation.