Associated Industries of Arkansas Foundation

Since 2015, the aia Foundation has researched, developed and launched be pro be proud, an effort designed to change public perceptions of skilled professions within the manufacturing, construction, utility and transportation Industries across Arkansas. To date, the effort has raised over $4 million from public, private and charitable sources and has engaged with over 115,000 middle and high school students across the state to promote high-demand, high-wage professional opportunities within these sectors. Impacts related to these efforts include increased employment within targeted fields as well as increased enrollments - significant in some places - in post-secondary technical programs on two-year campuses.