Clark Contractors Invests in Employee Education Through UA Little Rock Partnership
Published February 26, 2026
Clark Contractors, a commercial general contractor and construction manager with offices in Central Arkansas, Northwest Arkansas and Dallas, Texas, is bolstering its workforce development through a strategic partnership with the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UA Little Rock). The collaboration, initiated in 2024, provides employees with opportunities to pursue bachelor’s degrees while continuing their careers.
Expanding Educational Access
Through UA Little Rock’s Corporate Partnership Program, Clark Contractors employees are eligible for a 10% tuition scholarship on all undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs. Additional benefits include a $0 enrollment application fee and a $25 per credit hour scholarship, designed to remove financial barriers to higher education.
A Natural Progression for Clark Contractors
Jacob Earls, senior project manager at Clark Contractors, emphasized the natural alignment between the company’s values and the partnership. “Clark has a long history with the UA Little Rock Construction Management and Civil and Construction Engineering programs, and a large portion of our workforce has graduated from the Construction Management program in particular,” Earls said. “It was an easy decision.”
Employee Success Stories
Several Clark Contractors project administrators are currently enrolled at UA Little Rock, leveraging the program to advance their careers. Grant Thomas, set to graduate in May 2027 with a degree in construction management, stated, “I always planned to continue my education, but I was unsure what that path would look like until I began exploring companies that actively invest in their employees. Seeing the level of trust and confidence Clark [Contractors] places in young professionals starting their careers gave me the assurance to take that next step.”
Holdyn Brown, pursuing a Construction Management degree with an anticipated graduation in Spring 2029, highlighted the appeal of the program’s blend of office and field work. “I have always been attracted to hands-on work, and pursuing a degree in construction management offers both an office setting and a field setting where hands-on work is required to run a successful job,” Brown explained. “I am hoping that completing the program will lead to a full-time job offer.”
Gus Smith, expected to graduate in December 2026, chose Clark Contractors specifically for its support of employee education and flexible scheduling. “I’ll be graduating this coming December, and am excited to apply what I’ve learned,” Smith said. “After all, managing construction is more than what it seems; it’s also managing people to achieve the desired outcome. That’s something I didn’t grasp until I entered the classroom, and I’ll take it with me.”
Investing in the Future of Construction
Over one-third of Clark Contractors’ employees hold college degrees, with a significant percentage possessing bachelor’s degrees, particularly among those in managerial roles. This commitment to employee development underscores Clark Contractors’ dedication to fostering a skilled and knowledgeable workforce within the construction industry.
The Clark family contributed $250,000 to UA-Little Rock in March 2024, further demonstrating their support for the university and its programs. [Source: NWA Online]
Roughly a third of current, salaried employees at Clark Contractors are graduates of UALR’s Construction Management program. [Source: Arkansas Democrat-Gazette]