SCPDC Awarded an LED Workforce Development Grant in Partnership with St. James Works to support “St. James Parish Construction Academy”

South Central Planning and Development Commission in partnership with St. James Works received a grant funded under LED Workforce Development/Capacity Building Grant Program. This pilot program–the St. James Parish Construction Academy will allow local veterans, unemployed, and other under-employed residents the opportunity to:

1. Access remedial education including receipt of HiSET certification and then proceed through the ACT WorkKeys Curriculum consisting of computer-based learning and testing,
2. Achieve the National Career Ready Certificate (NCRC),
3. Receive construction-specific training with the assistance of the Associated Builders and Contractors’ regional chapter, and
4. Achieve nationally-accepted certification through completion of the Core and Level I curriculum of the National Center for Construction Education and Research (see nccer.org).

SJ Works Newsletter I 2

Work Ready Brochure Final 01.26.18

Find out more about St. James Work Ready Community Initiative www.workreadycommunities.org
FACEBOOK: SJP Work Ready
TWITTER: @SJPWORKREADY
Email: pcaillouet@charter.net

Delta Regional Authority (DRA) Grant Opens

The States’ Economic Development Assistance Program (SEDAP) Application Cycle opens March 1, 2018 and closes June 29, 2018.

South Central Planning and Development Commission (SCPDC) is the designated Local Development District (LDD) for our regional commission. As the LDD we provide technical assistance, application support, public outreach, and participation in DRA-sponsored programs and policy initiatives. SCPDC Parishes covered by the DRA include St. James, St. John the Baptist, St. Charles, St. Mary, Lafourche, and Assumption.

Eligible applicants: state and local governments (state agencies, city and county/parish); public bodies; and non-profit entities. *For-profit entities can partner with an eligible applicant.

For more information on application guidelines, please visit: http://dra.gov/funding-programs/states-economic-development-assistance-program/sedap-application-guidelines/

Eligible applicants should contact SCPDC’s Planning and Economic Development Department staff as soon as possible at 985-851-2900, to discuss projects and assist with the application process.

CONTACT PERSONS:

Martha Cazaubon at martha@scpdc.org

Stephanie Bruning at stephanieb@scpdc.org

***SCPDC planning staff were successful in receiving over $800,000.00 of the $3.3 million state-wide DRA funds last year.***

HOUMA-THIBODAUX MPO CALL FOR PROJECTS!

As announced at the January 2018 Policy Committee meeting of the Houma-Thibodaux Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), there is approximately $7 million in STP<200K funding available for transportation projects in the Houma-Thibodaux region for the years 2019-2022.

Eligible projects include, but are not limited to, roadway maintenance such as overlays and concrete section repairs, bicycle and pedestrian improvements, turning lanes and intersection improvements, engineering designs, and right-of-way acquisition or utility relocation for transportation projects.

All projects require a 20% match from the local government entity sponsoring the project. Consideration will only be given to those projects with a council resolution indicating a willingness to support the project.

Project applications are due by February 28, 2018. The applications will be reviewed and recommended for selection by the MPO’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) at the March TAC meeting. Projects must be submitted to the MPO by use of the project application form which can be downloaded here.

Completed applications as well as questions concerning the application and project eligibility can be submitted to:

Joshua Manning
Planner II
South Central Planning and Development Commission
P. O. Box 1870
Gray, LA 70359

Or via email to

josh@scpdc.org

The final selection will be made by the MPO Policy Committee at the April 2018 Policy Committee meeting.

PUBLIC NOTICE: Good Earth Transit DBE Meeting

PUBLIC NOTICE

Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government’s Good Earth Transit will consult with minority and women’s groups, general contractors, and community organizations, as well as local economic development staff to obtain information concerning the availability of disadvantaged and non-disadvantaged businesses on March 1, 2018 at 10am in the Pelican Room at the South Central Planning and Development Offices located at 5058 West Main Street, Houma, LA 70360.

For more information regarding this meeting, please contact:

Gayle J. Vaughn

Office Manager

Good Earth Transit

Terrebonne Parish Consolidated Government

Phone:  (985) 850-4616 ext. 409

Fax:  (985) 850-4619

SCPDC hosted an information session on the Census Bureau’s Local Update to Census Addresses (LUCA)

SCPDC hosted an information session on the Census Bureau’s Local Update to Census Addresses (LUCA) operation on Wednesday, June 12^th. Representatives from five member parish and organizations attended the meeting at SCPDC while Census Bureau personnel reviewed the benefits of the program and the need for the Census Bureau to obtain an accurate address list prior to the 2020 Census. Over $400 billion dollars are distributed by the federal government to the states and local communities each year based on Census counts. According to calculations by George Washington University, not counting a single household made up of four individuals can mean a loss of $80,840 dollars to a local community over the next ten years. The LUCA operation is an important opportunity for local governments to ensure that the Census’ address database is accurate and correct.

Please contact Joshua Manning (josh@scpdc.org) for more information on how your community can participate in the LUCA program. Please also take a moment to view the LUCA PowerPoint .