Workforce
With a mission to serve as a catalyst and connector advancing economic growth in North Louisiana, NLEP has a vast network of workforce development partners throughout the region and state. In fact, NLEP manages the Northwest Louisiana Workforce Development Ecosystem, a consortium of workforce development, education, government and non-profit organizations that have resident education, training and employment as part of their mission. Whatever workforce needs a current or prospective company may have, NLEP will know the resources to bring to the table to address them.
Watch the video below to see three examples of how NLEP and its training partners have worked with companies to build talent pipelines to meet their critical needs.
NLEP manages two specific initiatives that were developed to meet the needs of regional manufacturers seeking to attract new talent and develop specific skill sets for their companies.
North Louisiana Manufacturing Month
North Louisiana Manufacturing Month is a partnership of NLEP and the Manufacturers Managers Council of Northwest Louisiana that began in 2014. It is a celebration of national MFG Day, celebrated by the Manufacturing Institute, but has grown over the years from a one-week celebration to a month-long event.
Nearly 2,000 students, teachers and counselors from across 10 school districts in the region tour manufacturing plants and manufacturing training programs to learn more about the companies helping to drive our regional economy and the jobs and skills they need to be successful. NLEP produces a magazine each tour recipient receives that includes profiles of workers in critical occupations at the participating manufacturing companies, as well as information on relevant training programs in the region.
Created through a partnership of Toyota and The Manufacturing Institute, FAME is a 2-year work-study training model developed to grow the skilled maintenance technician talent pipeline. NLEP helped stand up the Northwest Louisiana FAME chapter (NWLA FAME) in 2022, now one of 40 other FAME chapters around the country.
NLEP is facilitating this chapter’s development in partnership with Bossier Parish Community College as training partner. NLEP’s role is to be the “hub” organization, serving as administrator and fiscal agent, and to attract new employer sponsors. As of January 2025, the chapter has 10 manufacturing sponsors.
To learn more about FAME, visit our chapter page at www.NWLAFAME.org.
EMPWR LA
EMPWR LA is a 6-week “Employment Preparedness & Workforce Readiness” boot camp-style training program. Discussions with local employers about the need for quality entry-level candidates in industrial skilled trades, advanced manufacturing and distribution industries led to the creation of this program.
The training models a 40-hour work week with an accountability structure that mimics employers’ expectations of attendance, punctuality, safety, dress code, and cell phone usage, and is currently being offered at Bossier Parish Community College. The program combines hands-on training, classroom instruction, direct employer engagement, and opportunities to earn multiple relevant Industry-Based Credentials (Forklift, OSHA 10, NCCER Core, CPT). All program completers are guaranteed interviews with program partner companies.
More than 20 companies have partnered with the program including: Martin Specialty Coatings, Johns Manville, Coca-Cola Shreveport, Red Ball Oxygen, Frymaster, EI Williams, Andritz, Bienville Lumber Company, Weyerhaeuser Arcadia & Dodson, Gordon Inc., Performance Foodservice Group, SLB, Jean Simpson, Pratt Industries, Sabre Industries, Teal Jones Plain Dealing Lumber, Ternium USA, CertainTeed, Ronpak, Manpower, Southern Components and ModuleXSolutions.
Jump Start – Statewide High School Career and Technical Training Program
In addition to NLEP’s initiatives, our staff works closely with regional high schools to align their career and technical training with the needs of the largest jobs-producing industries in the region. The statewide Jump Start CTE program was launched in 2015 in response to the needs of large-scale projects around the state that were facing a deficit of skilled workers to become viable. NLEP serves as a source of information to the 10 school districts that make up Northwest Louisiana’s Jump Start team.
LED FastStart – Louisiana’s Customized Workforce Recruitment and Training Program
NLEP partners with Louisiana Economic Development to identify the right mix of resources companies in our target industries need to locate or expand in North Louisiana. One of the most compelling resources that can be offered is the services of LED FastStart [hyperlink to LED FastStart website], ranked one of the top workforce training programs in the nation for a over decade .
Based on a company’s immediate and long-term workforce needs, the FastStart team crafts unique programs that ensure high-quality, flexible workers are prepared on day one and beyond.
The FastStart team includes dozens of experienced professionals from a range of businesses — manufacturing to corporate headquarters, digital media to customer support centers and R&D. FastStart has designed and delivered comprehensive workforce solutions for a wide variety of Fortune 500 companies, as well as high-tech companies funded by leading venture capital firms.
NLEP can provide many case studies and testimonials of companies in our region that have benefitted from FastStart services. Learn more about LED FastStart service here.