Louisiana awarded $17.4 million to expand job training programs - KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana News Weather & Sports

Louisiana awarded $17.4 million to expand job training programs

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By Willard Woods - email
BPCC gets $17.7 million to lead a multi-state job training program. BPCC gets $17.7 million to lead a multi-state job training program.
BOSSIER PARISH, LA (KSLA) -

Louisiana received more than $17 million in federal grants Wednesday to help community colleges expand job training programs through partnerships with private companies located near them. 

Bossier Parish Community College will lead nine community colleges in several states with a $14.7 million federal grant focused on information technology. And Elaine P. Nunez Community College in Chalmette received $2.7 million to redesign and expand its associate of applied science program in business administration.

The federal money for Louisiana is just a slice of the $500 million in grants to U.S. community colleges and universities around the country. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis announced the awards Wednesday while speaking in Florida.

"This strategic investment will enhance ties among community colleges, universities, employers and other local partners while ensuring that students have access to the skills and resources they need to compete for high-wage, high-skill careers," Solis says.

Through the initiative, each state plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico will receive at least $2.5 million in dedicated funding for community college career training programs.

The $14,710,837 awarded to BPCC will also go to other members of the BPCC led group: Delgado Community College, Northeast Louisiana Technical College, South Louisiana Community College, Copiah-Lincoln Community College, Meridian Community College, Mississippi Delta Community College, Northeast Mississippi Community College, Pearl River Community College.

Each of the nine colleges are to develop or revamp their core informational technology curriculum that offers students an entry-level certification in cyber security, industrial IT and health informatics.

The Nunez Community College redesign falls under business administration, including an emphasis on entrepreneurship, small business management, and hotel, restaurant and tourism administration.

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