U.S. Department of Commerce Invests $8.1 Million to Support Workforce Development and Business Growth in Louisiana

WASHINGTON – Today, U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo announced the Department’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) is investing $8.1 million in the state of Louisiana to support workforce development and business growth.

The EDA investments announced today are:

• SOWELA Technical Community College in Lake Charles will receive a $3.5 million EDA grant to establish a Flight Training School and support aerospace workforce development. The project will be matched with $3.1 million in local funds and is expected to create or retain 170 jobs and generate $2.2 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

• The South Central Planning and Development Commission in Houma will receive a $2.6 million EDA grant for building infrastructure improvements to support workforce development and create jobs. The project will be matched with $2.6 million in local funds and is expected to create 40 jobs, according to grantee estimates.

• Jefferson Parish Economic Development and Port District in Westwego will receive a $2 million EDA grant to construct the Greater New Orleans Food & Beverage Incubator, providing facilities and technical assistance to small businesses in the region. The project will be matched with $2.2 million in local funds and is expected to retain 420 jobs and generate $62.2 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.

“President Biden is committed to ensuring that all communities in Louisiana and across the country have the resources needed to grow and thrive,” said Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “These EDA investments will support workforce development and essential job-creating infrastructure in Lake Charles, Houma, and Westwego, that will strengthen their robust and diverse regional economies.”

“The Economic Development Administration plays an important role in supporting locally-developed strategies designed to create economic opportunity,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Alejandra Y. Castillo. “EDA is pleased to assist Lake Charles, Houma, and Westwego in their work to support business and economic growth and provide a trained workforce in a variety of industries.”

“I’m excited to announce these investments from the Economic Development Administration which will create a significant boost for workforce development and business growth in our state. These initiatives will create hundreds of jobs and attract millions in private investment. This is a proactive approach to fostering robust and diverse regional economies, ensuring Louisiana’s prosperity for years to come,” said Representative Troy A. Carter, Sr. (LA-02).

“Investing in South Louisiana’s workforce is crucial for economic growth and prosperity,” said Representative Clay Higgins (LA-03). “This funding will help SOWELA Technical Community College establish a Flight Training School in Lake Charles. I’m also encouraged to see EDA investment for the South Central Planning and Development Commission in Houma to support their mission of workforce development and job creation.”

The SOWELA Technical Community College project was made possible by the regional planning efforts led by the Southwest Louisiana Regional Planning Commission (SWLA). EDA funds SWLA to bring together the public and private sectors to create an economic development roadmap to strengthen the regional economy, support private capital investment, and create jobs.

These projects are 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.