Companies sought for free 2019 CEO program

Local businessman touts efficiencies learned

Applications are being accepted through March 30 in the Bayou Region for the CEO Roundtable program. It brings together key decision makers 10 times a year to collaborate in a trusted environment to grow their businesses.

The free program, presented by Louisiana Economic Development, will begin meeting in July at Fletcher Technical Community College on La. 311. It offers peer-to-peer learning through discussion, interaction and sharing of experiences with qualified facilitators, expert guest speakers and connections to various small business resources.

“I highly recommend it, especially for those who think they don’t have time to do it,” said Jason Bergeron, partner of Technology Professionals in Houma. “The efficiencies and information you pick up in peer-to-peer conversations pay for time invested. You’re able to take information from each session and apply it to increased earning potential of your company immediately.”

To qualify, applicants must be a CEO, business owner or key decision maker in a company that has between 5 and 100 employees, approximate annual revenue between $600,000-$50,000,000 and the potential to serve customers outside the local area. High-growth potential companies will be given additional consideration.

For more information or to apply, visit OpportunityLouisiana.com/CEO-Roundtables or contact Darrell Johnson at 225-342-4680 or Darrell.johnson2@la.gov. Questions can also be directed to Katherine Theriot at Terrebonne Economic Development at 985-873-6890.

Fletcher to build new career center

Fletcher Technical Community College is taking steps to build a $5 million career center building on its main campus in Schriever with the help of a local organization.

The South Central Industrial Association announced last month it was donating $60,000 to the school to build the ACT 360 Career Center.

“The SCIA donation was the last piece of the puzzle in raising the 12 percent of the matching funds to proceed with certifying the match for bond sales at the state level,” Fletcher Chancellor Kristine Strickland said.

The $5.1 million complex will be paid for through bond sales and a $600,0000 match.

“The Career Center will provide career assessment, whether you are age 18 or 55. It will be a site for industry interviews and job placement. It will also house many community agencies, including workforce commission, to learn about training opportunities and job opportunities,” Strickland said.

Depending on the date of a bond sale, Strickland said, she hopes construction on the center will begin in the near future.

SCIA’s donation is part of the organization’s mission to provide resources for local industry, including a focus on education of the workforce and job training, the organization said.

“This falls very much in line with our mission of proactively developing solutions focused on improving the business climate and quality of life in our region,” said Chett Chiasson, SCIA executive vice president and Lafourche Port Commission executive director.

SCIA also made other donations last year, including those to the Morganza Action Coalition, the La. 1 Coalition, Restore or Retreat and Nicholls State University.

Staff Writer Julia Arenstam can be reached at 448-7636 or julia.arenstam@houmatoday.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JuliaArenstam.

Congratulations to Fletcher Technical Community College for being ranked #2 on the list! Such an asset to the community!

NEW ORLEANS — With back-to-school season upon us and a year of community college nearly three times less expensive than a year at a public four-year college, the personal-finance website WalletHub released its report on 2018’s Best & Worst Community Colleges, coupled with its state-by-state ranking of the Best & Worst Community-College Systems.

To determine where students can receive the best education at the cheapest rates, WalletHub compared 715 community colleges across 17 key indicators of cost and quality. The data set ranges from the cost of in-state tuition and fees to student-faculty ratio to graduation rate.

In Louisiana, community colleges ranked as follows:

LADIES: College scholarship applications being accepted

HOUMA – The Women’s Business Alliance is now accepting applications for its 2018 Academic Scholarship Program.

The program is available to two types of female students pursuing higher education: the 2018 graduating high-school senior and the non-traditional student. The nontraditional student is one age 25 or older who has returned to a Louisiana college to pursue a degree. Applicants must be residents of Terrebonne and/or Lafourche Parishes.

Additional criteria for graduating seniors include a cumulative grade-point average of at least a 3.0 and be entering a Louisiana college during the 2017 year. Nontraditional applicants must have completed one semester of college and have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0. All applicants should visit www.wbahouma.org for further application requirements.

The scholarship program embodies the Women’s Business Alliance mission of improving the quality of life for women by empowering them in professional endeavors and personal relationships. The scholarship, awarded annually, aims to assist future women business leaders in pursuing their educational goals.

The application form and guidelines can be downloaded from www.wbahouma.org. Submission deadline for applicants is April 15, 2018.

Contact:

Crystal Gienger

Scholarship Chair, Women’s Business Alliance

(985) 448-7937

Terrebonne Economic Development Authority announces training opportunity

DEC. 11, 2017, HOUMA -- Proprietors of construction companies and entrepreneurs who wish to become licensed general contractors may be eligible for tuition assistance to the Louisiana Contractors Accreditation Institute (LCAI) through Terrebonne Economic Development Authority.

LCAI, a Fletcher Technical Community College-branded program, is broadcast at community colleges throughout the state of Louisiana over a six-week period. The class offers critical information about construction management and preparing for the business law portions of the state licensing exam.  LCAI is a partnership between Louisiana Economic Development and the Louisiana Community & Technical College System and the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors.

Limited tuition assistance is available to those companies/individuals who potentially qualify as disadvantaged business enterprises. In addition, TEDA will offer technical assistance to aid LCAI graduates with such tasks as strategic business planning, completing contractor’s qualification statements and profiles, registration with Central Contractor Registration, certification as a disadvantaged business enterprise and registration with various public agencies issuing project contracts. 

“This program is aimed at increasing the number of qualified contractors in Terrebonne Parish and increasing disadvantaged businesses’ access to large-scale, publicly funded projects,” said Matt Rookard, TEDA Chief Executive Officer.

Program applicants should email TEDA at dhenry@tpeda.org or call 873-6890 to request an application packet. 

The program is funded in part through Louisiana Economic Development, Tier 2 Marketing Grant Program.

For more information:
Matthew Rookard,
TEDA CEO
985-873-6890

Register by completing the two forms below and returning them to:

Terrebonne Economic Development, P.O. Box 3209, Houma, LA 70361 or by email at DHenry@tpeda.org.

Louisiana Contractors Accreditation Institute

The Louisiana Contractors Accreditation Institute, a partnership between Louisiana Economic Development, Louisiana Community & Technical College System and the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors offers small and emerging construction businesses critical information about construction management and how to prepare for the Business Law parts of the contractors state licensing exam.  

Registration begins December 4, 2017 with last day to register for class on January 26, 2018.  

Certified Line Worker Training Program offered at Fletcher & Delgado

The Certified Line Worker Training Program that is available at Fletcher Technical Community College and Delgado Community College will provide the necessary foundation for you to begin your line worker career as a helper/apprentice for an electric utility company.  

Louisiana Contractors Accreditation Institute - Classes starting Soon

Registration begins June 26, 2017 and last day to register for class will be September 11, 2017.

The Louisiana Contractors Accreditation Institute, a partnership between Louisiana Economic Development, Louisiana Community & Technical College System and the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors offers small and emerging construction Businesses critical information about construction management and how to prepare for the Business Law parts of the contractors state licensing exam.  

Fletcher Nursing Program ranks number 8 in the state

Fletcher Technical Community College's Associate of Science in Nursing program was ranked number 8 in the top 10 best RN programs in Louisiana by RegisteredNursing.org.  The ranking was based on the number of students who pass the NCLEX-RN exam.