The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) has announced a grant award of $885,000 to the Lafayette Economic Development Authority in Lafayette, Louisiana. The funds will be utilized to establish a workforce development training program for in-demand industries at South Louisiana Community College.
The grant supports the creation of Skills Up, a training program targeting the manufacturing, machining, and mechanics industries. It will also facilitate the procurement of necessary training equipment. The EDA’s investment will be supplemented with $271,389 in local funds.
Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development, Alejandra Y. Castillo, emphasized the EDA’s commitment to supporting local communities with economic investments. She stated that the new program would help equip residents with the skills needed for in-demand jobs, thereby strengthening the regional economy.
Representative Clay Higgins (LA-03) underscored the importance of skilled workforce development for South Louisiana’s economic prosperity. The funding, he said, would enhance workforce development programs, providing new opportunities for the local community and fueling economic growth.
The funding for this project comes under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023. The Act furnished the EDA with $483 million in extra Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery. This pertains to areas that received a major disaster declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Act due to natural disasters such as Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, wildfires, flooding, and others in 2021 and 2022. More information can be found on the EDA’s Disaster Supplemental webpage.
