Jonesboro Workforce Center Begins Construction
Area employers gain a shared training pipeline shaped by the skills they say they need, with phase one due in spring 2027.
Updated on Nov. 2, 2026 in Jobs — General
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Construction has begun on the first phase of the CREST Center on the Arkansas State University campus in Jonesboro, a workforce training facility serving ASU, ASU-Newport and Arkansas Northeastern College. The roughly $18 million first phase is slated for completion in spring 2027, with Hytrol Conveyor Company donating $500,000 toward the project.
Why it matters
CREST is designed to bring employers to the table to identify current and future workforce skill needs, which matters for any Jonesboro-area business that depends on finding trained labor. Its funding mix of state, county, local and industry dollars signals that regional employers are being asked to help shape the training pipeline they will draw from.
Phase one of the CREST Center carries an estimated $18 million cost, with a $7.5 million state HIRED grant and a $500,000 Hytrol donation among the funding sources. Craighead County, Jonesboro Unlimited and the Workforce Training Consortium are also contributing, though their amounts were not disclosed.
The players
Arkansas State University
A public research university in Jonesboro that is the anchor institution of the CREST partnership.
Hytrol Conveyor Company
A Jonesboro-based manufacturer of conveyor systems and material-handling equipment that donated $500,000 to the project.
Arkansas Department of Commerce
The state agency that administers the HIRED workforce grant program funding phase one.
The details
CREST brings Arkansas State University, ASU-Newport and Arkansas Northeastern College into one shared workforce facility. Phase one is made possible through a $7.5 million grant from the Arkansas Department of Commerce HIRED program, supplemented by additional regional organization and government funding. Construction is reported to be on schedule, with the first phase expected to open in spring 2027.
Timeline
Fall 2026: Construction celebration held with community members, industry partners and educational leaders.
Spring 2027: First phase of the CREST Center scheduled for completion.
Market Landscape
CREST is being funded in part through the Arkansas Department of Commerce HIRED program, which directs state workforce grants toward employer-linked training. The partnership model, with multiple colleges and local government and industry sharing costs, reflects a regional approach to closing skills gaps.
Operators in manufacturing and other skilled-labor sectors in the Jonesboro area should monitor CREST's program offerings as they develop, since the center is built around employer-identified skill needs. Businesses that want a voice in those needs can engage with the partnering institutions during the planning phase.
The takeaway
CREST is being built on the premise that employers should define training needs, so operators who want their skill requirements reflected should engage with ASU, ASU-Newport and Arkansas Northeastern College now. Track the spring 2027 opening date and the program lineup that follows to plan hiring pipelines for the coming years.
What happens next
The first phase of the CREST Center is scheduled for completion in spring 2027, the next concrete milestone for the project.
Further reading
For broader context on hiring and workforce trends, see Jobs — General coverage for the Jonesboro area.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Talk Business & Politics.
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