Industrial training facility to open here

An industrial training center is on the road to development in Rector. Mayor Ron Kemp met Tuesday, Aug. 12, with Vicki Kuykendall, director of the Greene County Industrial Training Center in Paragould, and received a letter of commitment from Black River Technical College (BRTC) at Pocahontas.

In the letter, BRTC president Richard Gaines wrote that "Black River Technical College is interested in pursuing a leasing agreement with the City of Rector to partner with other entities making available a business/industrial training center in your community."

In the letter, Gaines said "we too look forward to a relationship that will benefit all the citizens of your community, county and region."

The facility, which tentatively has been named the Northeast Arkansas Industrial Training Center, is expected to be housed in the former Rector Sportswear building located on Highway 49.

In a special city council meeting Wednesday, Aug. 6, the council allocated up to $35,000 over the next year to lease the property from Hartmarx Corporation. The allocated funds also will be available for the payment of taxes, insurance and initial improvements to the facility.

Mayor Kemp previously expressed interest in purchasing the building in the near future, with the anticipation that grant funds can be used for a significant part of the cost.

While details still are being worked out, the program could start soon.

"With some minor improvements to the building, it could open right away," Kemp said.

The current plan would see the administrative section of the building used for classrooms and offices. This is where the bulk of the initial training would take place. The remainder of the building will be utilized as the program grows.

The section of the building previously used for manufacturing could once more be used for that same purpose, should any company show interest in locating in Rector. In fact, there is the possibility of a joint training operation with area companies down the road, Kemp said.

Jacinda Welch, who works for both the city of Rector and BRTC, will be the director of the Northeast Arkansas Industrial Training Center.

The announcement of this program has many in the area anticipating brighter economic possibilities in the future.

"We feel this is the first step in becoming much more aggressive in attracting new jobs and businesses in the Rector area," Kemp said. "This will also provide a service to our local residents who need additional training and personal educational development to receive more employment opportunities."

The program signifies a joint effort to increase the economic viability of not only Rector, but the entire region.

"This is an exciting development for Rector and the surrounding area," Kemp said. "We feel it is an important step in leading to additional jobs and the development of our community. We are looking forward to working with the Greene County Industrial Training Center, Black River Technical College and other entities in developing our training program in our new center."