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Ouachita Parish approves $250,000 ARPA allocation for local manufacturing workforce program
Summary
The Ouachita Parish Police Jury approved a $250,000 ARPA allocation to the Northeast Louisiana Manufacturing Alliance & Coalition (NELA‑MAC) to fund workforce recruitment, training materials for educators, and a media campaign aimed at building a skilled labor pipeline, with the Workforce Office authorized to apply for a federal grant and hire a grant writer.
The Ouachita Parish Police Jury on June 21 approved a $250,000 allocation from American Rescue Plan Act funds to the Northeast Louisiana Manufacturing Alliance & Coalition (NELA‑MAC) to support local workforce development in manufacturing. President Shane Smiley moved the allocation, which was seconded by Lonnie Hudson and passed without opposition.
NELA‑MAC, represented at the meeting by Matt Dickerson, outlined goals to recruit candidates from across the community — with emphasis on low‑ to moderate‑income areas — provide materials for educators to guide youth into manufacturing careers, and launch a multimedia campaign and website to promote career paths with clear advancement opportunities. "The goals and objectives are to ensure a pipeline of skilled labor for our industries and prosperity for Northeast Louisiana," the motion language states, as read by Smiley during the meeting.
The Jury also approved a separate request from the Workforce Office to apply for the U.S. Department of Labor's "Building Pathways to Infrastructure Jobs" grant and to hire a grant writer to complete the application. Bedie Lewis of the Workforce Office made the request and the motion to authorize the application and hire passed without opposition.
Why it matters: Officials said the combined grant application and ARPA funds are intended to address local employer demand for trained manufacturing workers and to expand career pathways for youth. There was no recorded opposition or suggested limits on how the ARPA funds are to be released beyond standard administrative oversight.
Next steps: The Workforce Office will proceed with the federal grant application and the Parish will implement the NELA‑MAC funding agreement through the Police Jury’s Workforce Investment Department, per the motion adopted at the meeting.
