In a joint public-private effort to bring workforce training and career opportunities to north Baton Rouge, Gov. John Bel Edwards announced today a nearly $8 million expansion and renovation project at the Baton Rouge Community College Acadian campus, which will offer dual enrollment courses with a focus on industrial skills to area high school students.
The governor, along with Louisiana Community and Technical College System officials, briefly detailed the expansion project at a press conference and alluded to similar developments coming soon to other community and technical colleges across the state.
The expansion of BRCC Acadian campus, 3250 N. Acadian Thruway, will be funded through a public-private partnership with industry and business groups, with almost $7 million in bond-related funds and $1 million from private partners.
The project is tentatively expected to be complete in one year, at the start of the fall 2018 school year, says Quintin Taylor, LCTCS communications director.
The dual enrollment program will offer courses in welding, pipefitting, electrical training and instrumentation, as well as culinary arts and allied health.
A main component of the Acadian Workforce Industrial Training Campus expansion project will be a collaboration with the East Baton Rouge School System and Istrouma High School in particular, which reopens this fall.
“This is a substantial renovation project that will not only enable the BRCC Acadian Campus to expand its very successful North Baton Rouge Training Initiative, but also provide more opportunities for the community, city and the state,” Edwards said in a statement.
The North Baton Rouge Training Initiative is led by industry partners ExxonMobil, Turner Industries, Herb and Maxine Jacobs Foundation, ISC, Formosa Plastics, EXCEL, Performance Contractors, Jacobs Engineering, Pala Group, TRIAD, Brock Group, Georgia Pacific, Stubb Corporation, GBRIA, Associated Builders and Contractors and Employ BR.
“At a time of limited capital funds, we are grateful to Governor Edwards for his continued commitment to and investment in workforce opportunities for the people of Louisiana,” said LCTCS President Dr. Monty Sullivan in a statement. “Now more than ever, we must ensure access to life changing academic and workforce training. The renovation of the BRCC Acadian Campus is a clear message of investment and opportunity for the people of north Baton Rouge.”
Public funding for the expansions is provided by the LCTCS ACT 360 Project approved during the 2013 legislative session, which is a statewide initiative to improve Louisiana community and technical college facilities.
—Annie Ourso
