Central Louisiana Technical Community College
Central Louisiana Technical Community College Awarded Almost $900,000 For Workforce Training
Almost $900,000 awarded Central Louisiana Technical Community College will train students in forestry, industrial and manufacturing technology and commercial vehicle operation.
The Louisiana Community and Technical College System has awarded $890,460 in Rapid Response grants to Central Louisiana Technical Community College (CLTCC) to address workforce training demands in the Central Louisiana region.
This award of grant funds was based on training proposals submitted by the college and marks the second such grant award.
The college has also received a $500,000 Rapid Response grant thanks to partnerships developed this summer in concerted efforts between industry, and economic development organizations such as the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, or CLEDA, and The Rapides Foundation. In this latest award, CLTCC's Oakdale Campus and Northwest Louisiana Technical College's Natchitoches Campus are partnering to develop a secondary to post-secondary initiative which allow students to earn college credit while enrolled in high school.
Those credits can then be used toward students obtaining a post-secondary credential in forestry technology.
A portion of the grant funding will also allow the college to offer a short-term training program in commercial vehicle operation to prepare students to obtain a Commercial Driver’s License.
The remaining grants funds will be used to expand the college's existing program to train students in industrial maintenance and manufacturing technology.
“CLTCC is extremely proud to be a part of partnerships with several local companies and economic development organizations. We are grateful to the State of Louisiana for seeing these worthwhile partnerships and initiatives as an investment in Cenla that will see exceptional returns,” said Jimmy Sawtelle, Interim Director of CLTCC.
"It is universally recognized that employers are continuing to seek committed, competent and contributing employees for their organizations," said Ray Peters, vice president of Human Resource for RoyOMartin, one of the largest independently owned lumber companies in the South.
"Having the funding available to support ongoing workforce development activities in Central Louisiana helps to promote the availability of trained talent, which forms the basis for sustained economic development in our region," Peters said.
"RoyOMartin is pleased to partner with the Central Louisiana Technical Community College in helping to improve the employability of potential job seekers in our community," Peters said.
Gilchrist Construction Company, LLC, one of Louisiana's top highway contractors, also played an integral role in assisting with research to support the creation of a short-term training program so participants can obtain a Commercial Driver's License (CDL).
This led to yet another partnership with Acadiana Technical College located in Crowley, LA, to provide citizens with alternatives in obtaining a CDL for a reasonable cost.
"Gilchrist Construction Company (GCC) is very supportive of our technical college system and are proud of the recent accomplishments our local institution has achieved," said Valerie Aymond, GCC's chief resource officer.
"Creating education programs that retain unemployed or underemployed citizens for jobs in high-demand sectors plays an important role in economic development for our area," Aymond said.
"The funding received by Central Louisiana Technical Community College allows the college the capability of equipping adults with the skills businesses require," Aymond said.
"Gilchrist’s partnership with the college to provide short-term training career technical programs helps support our local workforce needs," Aymond said.
CLTCC is currently developing these new and expanded training programs, with enrollment to start this June.
For questions regarding eligibility and the cost for programs, please contact CLTCC at (318) 487-5443 ext. 1148, stop by the college at 4311 South MacArthur Drive, Alexandria, LA or visit the college's website at www.cenlaworks.net
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Websites:
CLTCC’s Rapid Response Training: www.CenlaWorks.Net
Central Louisiana Technical Community College: www.CLTC.edu
Contact: Jimmy Sawtelle
(225) 329-5701
jsawtelle@cltc.edu
