$400,000 grant will help locals get free on-the-job training in high-demand fields

St. Charles Parish job seekers with little to no work experience will get a lift after a $400,000 grant was provided to the River Parishes office of the Louisiana Workforce Commission for on-the-job training.

Tommy Scott III, investment board director for the River Parishes office, said the grant will go a long way toward supplying those currently out of work with the training necessary to be productive employees as well as provide assistance to employers who are hesitant to hire those without the proper skills and training.

“The economy is booming in St. Charles Parish and this is a perfect opportunity for our residents to take advantage of those opportunities,” he said.

In particular, Scott said the LWC will put an emphasis on placing participants in the construction, hospitality, healthcare, manufacturing and information technology sectors.

“The purpose of the grant is to coordinate efforts to focus on reconnecting participants to the workforce in high-demand occupations emerging as result of new or expanding companies in our area,” he said.

The grant is designed to cover the expenses for work-based training, customized training and apprenticeships and will pay anywhere from 50 to 90 percent of an employee’s salary during training depending how long that training takes.

“The only thing is the participant must be offered a full-time position when it is ended. The beauty of this grant is that every person targeted will ideally have a permanent position at a large company or progressive industry,” Scott said.

Scott said the grants are designed to not only provide skills for workers, but also embed them with a local employer where they will be able to pursue a long career.

“The great thing about this grant is the idea to ensure every participant eligible for the program ends up with a permanent career. We are not focusing on getting them a job per se, but an excellent career so that they are able to work, play and reside within the River Parishes and enjoy a sustainable quality of life,” he said.

Scott said for the LWC to be successful in placing local residents in careers, they will need the assistance of growing employers who are willing to participate in the program.

“The success of this grant is going to depend on our employer participation. Basically we need our local employers who are in those industries to sign on so we may connect the two in a mutually beneficial relationship,” he said.

Those interested in participating in the program can inquire about it in person at the St. Charles Parish Business & Career Solutions Center located at 737 Paul Maillard Road, Suite 2A in Luling. The center can be reached by calling  (985) 783-5030.