Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – Educational and local leaders gathered Tuesday as Hytrol Conveyor Company presented a $500,000 check in recognition of being named a founding industry partner at Arkansas State University’s upcoming Career Readiness Education and Skills Training (CREST) Center.

In addition to celebrating the presentation, A-State leadership announced the naming of the Hytrol Workforce Training Room at the center in recognition of the partnership. The naming was approved during the ASU System Board of Trustees’ last meeting in August.

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“I believe Hytrol’s name on that room will carry special meaning. When completed, the Hytrol Workforce Training Room will be a place where people develop skills, discover opportunities, and prepare for careers that will change the trajectory of their lives,” said interim A-State chancellor Dr. Calvin White during the ceremony.

The $500,000 gift will support the CREST Center, which is a partnership between A-State, ASU Newport and Arkansas Northeastern College, aiming to provide job-ready workers and credentials with a focus on advanced automated manufacturing, steel manufacturing, and food processing.

| READ MORE: Closing the Gap: How CREST is Fueling Northeast Arkansas’ Industrial Expansion

When completed, the entire center will be 70,000 square feet. Construction of the first phase of the center, estimated to be 26,000 square feet, has already begun and is expected to be completed in spring 2027, with classes starting that fall.

It is projected to cost $18 million, with funding coming from the university’s institutional reserves, various grant programs, loan proceeds, and public/private funds.

“It will provide not only an opportunity for employers to better prepare an existing workforce, it also provides us an opportunity to train the future workforce, to be better prepared for those opportunities,” said Mark Young, president and CEO of the Jonesboro Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Hytrol Conveyor Company has been in Jonesboro since 1962. It designs and manufactures conveyor systems, controls, and material handling systems.

“Hytrol has spent more than six decades growing alongside Jonesboro and Northeast Arkansas,” said Phillip Poston, chief administrative officer of Hytrol. “Our future is tied to this region, and we believe that one of the most important investments that we can make is in the people that drive that future.”

Editor’s Note: This story was updated to clarify that the first phase of the center is under construction and is estimated to be completed in spring 2027.

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