TEDA takes to the road to fill local jobs

More than 820 jobs are available in Terrebonne Parish, and the Terrebonne Parish Economic Development Authority, the South Central Planning and Development Commission and the South Louisiana Economic Council are hitting the road to help fill the positions.

“These jobs are all across the board,” said TEDA CEO Steve Vassallo. “We are showcasing all the well-paying jobs available in Terrebonne Parish, and the 820 available jobs are just the tip of the iceberg. We need pipefitters, engineers, accountants and civil engineers, and the pay for these jobs range in salary from $10 an hour to $70,000 a year. The positions that need the most workers are machinists, pipefitters, welders, offshore marine technology personnel and common laborers.”

During the next month, Vasallo, SLEC economic development administrator Cullen Curole and SCPDC president and CEO Vic Lafont will visit 30 agencies and academic institutions based in 26 cities in Mississippi and Louisiana. Stops in Mississippi include Hattiesburg, Jackson and Gulfport, and in-state stops include Chalmette, New Orleans, Luling, Baton Rouge, Sorrento, Hammond, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Covington, Jefferson, Opelousas, DeRidder, Natchitoches, Alexandria, Shreveport, Monroe, Mansfield, Jonesville, Bossier City and Ruston.

“Mississippi is fertile ground to find the workers we need because of its pockets of high unemployment,” Vassallo said. “We decided it would be advantageous to tap into that resource, especially since leaders within the State of Mississippi are encouraging it. I am delighted that we have received such a positive response so far, and we’re only three cities into the tour.”

While in Mississippi, Vassallo visited Oxford and Brookhaven, home to Mississippi Workforce Investment Network centers, and the Delta Technical College campus at Horn Lake and presented officials at each stop with a workforce development book outlining the scores of employment opportunities here in Terrebonne Parish.

“Northwestern State University in Natchitoches is very excited about our visit,” Vassallo said. “I think that in the next 90 days we will begin to see follow-ups to our visits and have a barometer to measure success of the trips.”

Vassallo also suggested that local employers post any job opportunities on the Mississippi Department of Employment Security website at mdes.ms.gov and take advantage of the skills of National Guard and Reserve service members by posting jobs on www.esgr.mil.

About 39 local employers, including Bordelon Marine, Crosby Tugs, Dolphin Services, Weatherford and Gulf Island Fabricators are looking for skilled workers, and Vassallo pointed out three major reasons why there are so many vacant jobs in Terrebonne Parish.

“First, unemployment here is in the low threes, and that is one of the lowest rates in the country,” Vassallo said. “Second, Fletcher Technical Community College and Nicholls State University can’t train the workers fast enough. They are doing a fantastic job training all the students they can, but the demand is just so high. Lastly, there is a preconceived notion about the quality of life we have here, and we need to dispel that notion and showcase our commercial development.”

Vasallo also cited the lack of housing in the area as another reason for the high number of unfilled jobs, but headway is being made in the region’s housing sector.

“There was just a ribbon cutting ceremony here in Houma for affordable housing,” he said. The parish sees the need and doing a great job to meet it.”