Upskill NWA comes to work every day with the mission to connect you to your dream career. Currently, we connect participants to career opportunities in the healthcare field and take care of things like tuition, books, fees, licensing exam costs, and other historical barriers. Upskill NWA participants are partnered with a Career Navigator who are with you every step of the way to ensure your success.
Excellerate Foundation and Walton Family Foundation joined leaders from local academic institutions and major employers in Northwest Arkansas to connect the region's untapped workforce to skilled positions in high demand industries.
As a result, these two foundations committed $3 million to the three-year roll out phase of Upskill NWA. Upskill NWA is based on the proven model of success that has served people across the country for nearly 30 years, a model that has been known as Project QUEST, Capital IDEA, and others.
Upskill NWA wants to bring this successful upskilling model to our region to provide lasting positive impact to its participants and their families. Research showed that children of Capital IDEA participants experienced a college enrollment rate of approximately 70% directly after high school compared to the expected rate of just 45% (Source: Greg Compton, UT Ray Marshall Center). We want to empower leaders of today and generations of leaders to come.
Our three-part application process will allow you to complete the application from your home computer or smartphone with internet. If you are have additional questions about the application process, contact info@upskillnwa.com.
Meet with a member of the Upskill NWA team to review your application and interview for the program.
Accepted applicants will start as Upskill NWA participants at the next available opportunity.
President / CEO
Director of Services
Director of Finance
Career Navigator
Career Navigator
Career Services Coordinator
As an organization with a mission to place people into great careers, we collaborate with like-minded organizations throughout our community. Through the generous support of multiple entities, Upskill NWA’s services—including tuition, books, fees, licensing exam fees, and other historical barriers —are provided at no cost to participants.
Participants must have a household income at or lower than 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI). Participants must also be able to be a student and work in the United States, and they must be accepted for enrollment by one of our educational partners. Participants must also reside in Benton, Madison, or Washington County in Arkansas. For more information, please see Apply.
Provide your income, your spouse or partner's income, and any income benefits you receive for your children (under the age of 18). This includes income from your job, child support, benefits, assistance programs, and so on.
If you do not have any income of your own, for example a parent supports you, you will need to ask that person for your expense amounts and will be able to note this in your application when reporting your income and expenses.
If you have lost a copy of your taxes, you can get a transcript of your taxes from the IRS by calling (800)-829-1040. Transcripts will be mailed directly to you in two to three weeks.
Single: Not legally married and not living with someone with whom you have children.
Married or living with a partner: Legally married or living with someone with whom you have children.
You can show proof of residency by providing a copy of your lease or mortgage statement. If you do not have a lease or mortgage of your own because you are living with friends or family, you can provide these three things:
A letter from the head of household confirming that you live there and stating whether or not you will continue living there while in school.
A utility bill showing the head of household’s name and address.
A piece of mail with your name and the same address.
To get a copy of your high school transcript, contact the registrar’s office at the school from which you graduated. It should be able to get you a copy of your transcript.
For a GED certificate, Order a Duplicate Transcript from the Arkansas Division of Workforce Services.
