Southeastern NEWS

                                                       Southeastern Louisiana University
                                           Public Information Office
                                           publicinfo@selu.edu
                                           SLU 880, Hammond, LA 70402
                                           985-549-2341/fax 985-549-2061
    Date: 06/21/01
      Contact:                           Angey Saucier   35

SLU RECEIVES $250 THOUSAND FOR LOCAL COMPANY TRAINING
     HAMMOND   Southeastern Louisiana University's Division of Continuing Education
and Special Activities has received two new grants totaling $257,304 from the Louisiana
Department of Labor through the Louisiana Incumbent Worker Program.
     The grants -- $197,602 for Gulf South Machine of Ponchatoula and $59,702 for
Crossover Inc., of Independence   will be used to help the businesses upgrade employee skills
and create new jobs. Southeastern has been chosen by the Department of Labor to provide the
training for the grants, and all funds will be coordinated through the Division of Continuing
Education.
     "The idea behind these grants is a rise in employee productivity through training," said
Veda Abene of Southeastern's Division of Continuing Education. "This training is expected to
result in retention of jobs that otherwise may have been eliminated, and an increase in wages for
the trained workers." 
     She said training on campus and at Gulf South Machine facilities will be provided by
Southeastern faculty and by outside vendors.
     Training for Gulf South employees has already begun. Employees have taken courses in
blueprint reading and computer assisted drafting offered by industrial technology faculty Ed
Rode and Louise Bostic. Currently, industrial technology professor Tony Blakeney is teaching 
machine technology.
     Abene said 55 Gulf South Machine employees will receive training over two years.
Southeastern will begin a two year training of 38 Crossover employees once supplies and
equipment are purchased.
     To be eligible for participation in the Louisiana Incumbent Worker Program, a business
must have operated in Louisiana and contributed to the state's Unemployment Insurance System
for at least three years. In addition, an employer, or consortium of employers with similar needs,
                             (MORE)
SLU Receives $250 Thousand for Local Company Training   add one
must exhibit long-range commitment to employee training and have at least 15 employees to be
trained.  Preferential consideration is given to those companies that select public training
providers, donate equipment and supplies to the program, and participate in the Welfare-to-Work
Initiative.
     For more information on the program, contact the Louisiana Department of Labor's
Incumbent Worker Training Unit at 225-342-7643 or online at www.LAWORKS.net.

                            - SLU -
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       www.selu.edu/NewsEvents/PublicInfoOffice/newsm01.htm