A recently designated consortium of local, state and federal leaders is working to get more federal dollars for Louisiana’s chemical industry, specifically for workforce training.
As detailed in a feature from 10/12 Industry Report’s new quarterly issue, the Louisiana Chemical Manufacturing Initiative is one of 24 designated manufacturing consortium participating in the U.S. Economic Development Administration’s investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership.
Through the IMCP program, the EDA coordinates federal aid to support development plans and synchronizes grant programs across multiple departments and agencies.
“We plan to help our partners compete for federal funding opportunities,” says Jonathan Shi, an LSU professor and director of LCMI. “We’re currently paying our own way when it comes to training, but we hope, through our efforts, to be able to bring in federal dollars.”
The LCMI, which represents Louisiana’s chemical corridor from New Orleans to Lake Charles, met in Gonzales in April to discuss federal funding needs for Louisiana’s chemical industry.
It also wants to align new investments in higher education with workforce needs and emerging growth sectors in the state economy.
The Louisiana Department of Education is working with high schools to implement programs to provide credit for training relevant-to-high-need areas in chemical manufacturing.
Turner Industries employee Robert Dragg, currently working at Shell Chemical in Geismar, highlighted the need for training within the industry. Dragg told the group about how he was able to double his house pay rate by taking a craft training program at the the Associated Builders and Contractors—Bayou Chapter in New Orleans.
“I started welding when I was in the 11th grade, which is when I was introduced to ABC-Bayou Chapter,” Dragg said. “At the end of my 12th grade year, I was allowed to participate in a program sponsored by Shell and Turner to continue to go to the ABC school over the summer, for free.”
Since entering the workforce in September 2014, Dragg’s hourly pay rate has doubled due to continued workforce training. He eventually graduated as Outstanding Student of the Year from ABC.
Read the full story, and sign up for a free subscription to the quarterly magazine, which is a sister publication of Business Report. Send feedback, story ideas and company news to editor@1012industryreport.com.
