LCTCS board highlights workforce partnerships as Meta site, industry grants and school programs expand training

Secretary Bis of the Louisiana Department of Economic Development told the LCTCS Board of Supervisors that Meta has selected a Richland Parish site — the Franklin Farms mega site — for a major data-center investment, and that the state and colleges must help prepare the workforce to fill those jobs. “Meta has selected North Louisiana … to build their largest ever AI processing center … committed to at least 500 permanent jobs, 5 to 6,000 construction jobs, a minimum of a $10 billion investment,” Secretary Bis said.

System leaders and college officials told the board the Community and Technical College system is positioning programs to meet employer demand. Dr Sullivan thanked partners and said the system has been working to “position this system to be able to educate and train the workforce they would need,” emphasizing a cooperative, “whole of Louisiana” approach.

River Parishes Community College and industry partners described concrete steps tying education to local operations. Stanley Bamy of Air Products said the company is investing heavily in Louisiana and wants local pipelines of workers. Michael Smith, stakeholder engagement lead for ExxonMobil Pipeline, described a plan to bring pipeline emergency-response, fire and hazardous-materials training to the region and said the company is funding local training rather than sending responders out of state. “We take that responsibility very, very seriously … we wanted to approach RPCC to see is there an opportunity for us to partner with a local institution … and we could help fund a training here at home,” Michael Smith said.

RPCC outlined the Epic E3 Academy, a year‑long after‑school program using a U.S. Department of Energy–aligned curriculum. College and school-district leaders said the E3 Academy will run one‑hour sessions two days per week, launch in fall 2025 at two Ascension Parish primary schools, enroll about 20 students per site (40 total), and provide teacher professional development. RPCC officials said the RPCC Foundation will receive a $280,000 donation to seed the work, instructors will be paid $50 an hour and parents will be required to engage as part of the program design.

Ascension Parish School Board Director Eve Frederick said the academy will be aligned with school accountability metrics and help students’ literacy and numeracy while introducing them to energy‑industry careers. College leaders emphasized the intention that these programs create career pathways from early exposure through dual-enrollment and certificate programs.

Board members praised the cross-sector partnerships and asked for updates as programs roll out; presenters said they will return with outcomes and next steps. The board did not take formal votes tied to these presentations; the meeting proceeded to administrative and action items.