Disaster spawns a good idea

After devastating tornadoes struck Dumas in 2007, area leaders, seeing the disaster recovery as an opportunity to “rewrite the economy,” conceived the idea of a state-of –the-art technology education and training center in Dumas. Committees were formed, inquiries went out, and local businesses, non-profits, civic groups, and individuals came together to give the idea concrete substance.

As a result of this teamwork, the center opened and was dedicated 2010. In 2011 the center began a renovation project for an education building.

The DTEC education building was completed in June of 2012. It provides two large interactive classrooms using technology to teach medicine, industry, agriculture and business.

Participating schools

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Southeast Arkansas College, University of Arkansas at Monticello-College of Technology-McGehee, and Phillips Community College offer college credit and non-credit courses in the education building, which include training classes sought by business, industry, and agriculture.

Arkansas Department of Workforce Services

Local offices for the Arkansas Department of Workforce Services are on DTEC campus. This office provides extensive support to employers and persons seeking employment including:

  • Assistance with resume development
  • Jobs search
  • Job placement
  • Funding assistance
  • Unemployment assistance
  • Financial aid information
  • Job fairs
  • Tax preparation software
  • Employer services
  • Partner services

DTEC’s  mission is to develop an improved economy in this area of Southeast Arkansas through full access to technology for the public, additional educational opportunities, workforce training, entrepreneurship expansion, and alliance with the public schools