In order to promote workforce development efforts in the area, Northwest Louisiana Technical College is investing $1.6 million awarded from the Workforce and Innovation for a Stronger Economy (WISE) Fund.
It represents the largest single investment from the new fund for any two-year college in the State.
“We carefully developed a regional workforce development plan that will meet the needs of multiple industry sectors in northwest Louisiana,” Interim Director Dr. Rick Bateman Jr., said. “We are delighted that the Board of Regents has seen the merits of our plan and has invested significantly in our college. These dollars will help us meet our goal to triple the number of graduates in our workforce training programs over the next five years.”
In June of last year, Gov. Bobby Jindal signed legislation that increased higher education funding by $40 million, of which nearly $12 million has gone to Louisiana’s Community and Technical Colleges. The legislation created the WISE Fund and Northwest LTC submitted a successful proposal to fund four pathway projects that will increase graduates in Cyber Technology, Industrial Technology, Manufacturing, and Energy Services.
“We are laser-focused on the creation and expansion of high-skill, high-demand, and high-wage curricula that meet regional workforce needs,” Northwest LTC’s Chief Academic Officer, Laurie Morrow, said. “The WISE funds will allow us to launch a new Industrial Electrician program while also strengthening and expanding our Cyber Technology, Industrial Manufacturing, and Energy Services programs.”