U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $885,000 to Establish Workforce Development Training Program in Lafayette, Louisiana

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is awarding a $885,000 grant to the Lafayette Economic Development Authority, Lafayette, Louisiana, to establish a workforce development training program for in-demand industries at South Louisiana Community College.

This grant will support the establishment of Skills Up, a workforce training program focused on the manufacturing, machining, and mechanics industries and for the procurement of related training equipment. This EDA investment will be matched with $271,389 in local funds.

“The Economic Development Administration works closely with local communities to support place-based economic investments,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “This EDA investment will help prepare residents for quality, in-demand jobs, creating a stronger, more resilient regional economy.”

“Developing a skilled workforce is crucial to South Louisiana’s economic prosperity,” said Representative Clay Higgins (LA-03). “This funding will support the Lafayette Economic Development Authority and South Louisiana Community College as they improve workforce development programs for the manufacturing, machining, and mechanics industries. This investment will help provide new opportunities for South Louisiana’s citizenry and support future growth of our economy.”

This project is funded under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, which provided EDA with $483 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas that received a major disaster declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Act as a result of Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, wildfires, flooding, and other natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2021 and 2022. Please visit EDA’s Disaster Supplemental webpage for more information.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration (www.eda.gov)
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation’s regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA invests in communities and supports regional collaboration in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth.