Forging Futures: The Arkansas Steelmaking Bootcamp Powers Mississippi County’s Workforce
Here in Mississippi County, the nation’s largest steel-producing county, the demand for skilled workers has never been higher. World-class employers like Big River Steel (U.S. Steel), Nucor-Yamato, Nucor Arkansas and Hybar are fueling billions in investment and providing thousands of high-wage jobs. The steel industry needed a pipeline for recruiting and training employees.
A solution came in 2023 with the launch of the Arkansas Steelmaking Bootcamp at Arkansas Northeastern College (ANC) in Blytheville. This free, 80-hour training program is creating a direct pipeline to good-paying jobs while strengthening the county’s economic foundation.
The Bootcamp was created with three goals: open access to in-demand careers, accelerate workforce readiness to meet urgent hiring needs and strengthen community resilience by connecting residents to stable, high-wage jobs. Since its founding, the program has been transformational. Twenty-three cohorts have already graduated, resulting in 280 confirmed job placements.
Training is delivered in two-week cycles with flexible, open-entry enrollment. Participants receive classroom instruction, hands-on technical training and industry site tours. Topics include steelmaking processes, blueprint reading, hydraulics, electrical applications, forklift and crane safety, OSHA-10 General Industry and CPR/First Aid.
Instructors bring decades of real-world experience as metallurgical engineers, electrical technicians and industrial maintenance professionals. Their expertise ensures participants learn technical skills and understand workplace expectations and problem-solving in mill environments.
The program is offered free through a grant from the Arkansas Office of Skills Development and supported by employer partners. By removing cost barriers, the Bootcamp opens doors for workers who might not otherwise pursue training.
What sets the program apart is its direct alignment with industry needs. The curriculum was developed with input from steel companies, and employers now see it as an extension of their onboarding process. Graduates are often hired immediately and enter jobs that typically start at $67,000 a year, with potential to exceed $100,000 through production bonuses. Employers benefit as well, saving time and money on in-house training.
As Mississippi County prepares for U.S. Steel’s $3 billion expansion, Hybar’s second mill and Merrill Steel’s new facility, the need for skilled workers will only grow. The Bootcamp ensures the workforce is ready while giving residents pathways to financial security.
What began in Blytheville is now a model for the state and beyond, proving that world-class workforce development can thrive in a community of 12,000. The Arkansas Steelmaking Bootcamp shows how innovation and collaboration can create opportunity that reaches far beyond the mill gates.