SCIA gets jobs program funds

An anonymous $187,000 donation secured through a grant from the Greater New Orleans Foundation will assist the South Central Industrial Association with its Work It! Louisiana program.

According to SCIA Executive Director Jane Arnette, the financial gift will help fund the organization’s youth service program, which instructs young participants in strengthen social structure through workforce development, skills training and academic support services.

The Fletcher Foundation will serve as a fiscal agent for SCIA, due to its being a 501c3 organization.

The SCIA Work It! Louisiana program is an outreach and recruitment tool. With Work It! participants become involved with workforce development, skills training, and offers academic and career services.

With Work It! Louisiana, the SCIA has been able to focus on a diverse population of parents and students within the public schools of Assumption, Lafourche and Terrebonne parishes.

“Work It! is an awareness program that continually informs youth on the career paths as part of ongoing educational objectives,” Arnette said. “[This] includes an expansive speakers bureau composed of business leaders in the multi-parish area.”

The WorkIt! Louisiana program has been administered during the past three years, is funded through the Louisiana State Legislature and is administered by the Louisiana Workforce Commission and the Terrebonne Economic Development Authority as a fiscal agent.

The Fletcher Foundation also serves as a fiscal agent and will monitor the $187,000. The program is to be sustained for two years.

“We believe it is a natural partnership since we work closely with [Fletcher Technical Community College] and its staff to implement WorkIt!” Arnette said.

In the WorkIt! program, eighth grade and high school students are offered a brochure that lines out career courses at FTCC, South Central Louisiana Technical College and two-year courses offered at FTCC.

“We are looking forward to selecting our school champions [teachers] who are critical to the success of this program,” SCIA President Kirk Meche said.

“The champions guide and mentor students toward various career choices, while assisting the campaign with WorkIt! Louisiana information and activities.”