SOWELA receives $3.5M federal grant for flight training school
Summary
LAKE CHARLES, La. (KPLC) - The U.S. Department of Economic Development Administration (EDA) has announced it will be investing $3.5 million into SOWELA for a flight training school, according to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo.The investment is part of a larger $8.1 million package for the state of Louisiana to support workforce development and business growth.SOWELA Technical Community College will receive a federal grant to establish a flight training school and support aerospace workforce development. The project will be matched with $3.1 million in local funds and is expected to retain 170 jobs and generate $2.2 million in private investment, according to grantee estimates.Additionally, the grant package includes $2.6 million for building infrastructure improvements for the South Central Planning and Development Commission in Houma and $2 million to construct the Greater New Orleans Food & Beverage Incubator for the Port District in Westwego.Investing in South Louisianas workforce is crucial for economic growth and prosperity, said U.S. Representative Clay Higgins. This funding will help SOWELA Technical Community College establish a Flight Training School in Lake Charles. Im also encouraged to see EDA investment for the South Central Planning and Development Commission in Houma to support their mission of workforce development and job creation.These projects are funded under the Disaster Relief Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2023, which provided EDA with $483 million in additional Economic Adjustment Assistance (EAA) Program funds for disaster relief and recovery for areas that received a major disaster declaration under the Robert T. Stafford Act as a result of Hurricanes Ian and Fiona, wildfires, flooding, and other natural disasters occurring in calendar years 2021 and 2022.