River Parishes Community College, the Louisiana Chemical Association and the Louisiana Chemical Industry Alliance met July 31 to discuss future opportunities and needs of the local chemical industry.
RPCC, LCA and LCIA representatives met with 16 business and industry leaders to talk about the needs of the industry and the ways RPCC can meet those needs, RPCC representative Nicholas Ory said in a news release.
RPCC representatives discussed training and job skills needed in new hires and the increased programming and partnership opportunities.
The business and industry leaders were asked to give feedback about the opportunities available in petrochemical and contractor organizations for creating highly trained employees.
“These opportunities continue to expand as aging baby boomers retire in increasing numbers,” Ory said.
RPCC is in the process of expanding its facilities. The community college has signed a purchase agreement to acquire 44 acres at the Gonzales and Burnside exit of Interstate 10.
The first phase of construction will include a building that will house administrative services and academic programs. The second phase of construction will include space for a Center for Advanced Technology for technical programs, Ory said.
The new facility will house the technical and academic programs. Currently, students take academic courses at the John LeBlanc campus in Sorrento and technical courses on the Airline Highway campus in Sorrento.
