FEBRUARY NEWSMAKER FORUM FEATURES HIGHER EDUCATION LEADERS
Dr. Woodley, Speaker Kleckley, LCTCS to discuss Louisiana’s workforce challenge
**The following is a news release from the Acadiana Press Club**
CONTACT: Marie Centanni 225-270-5014
marie@centannicommunications.com
LAFAYETTE – University of Louisiana System President Dr. Sandra K. Woodley, Louisiana Speaker of the House Chuck Kleckley (R-Lake Charles), and a representative from the Louisiana Community and Technical College System will join members of the Acadiana Press Club on Monday to discuss the WISE Program and how it could help Louisiana’s higher education community meet our workforce challenge. The Newsmaker Forum will be begin at noon, and will be held in the Community Room at The Daily Advertiser.
Recently announced economic development projects have created more than 80,000 new jobs in Louisiana, with a projected shortage of workers to fill those positions. In January, Gov. Bobby Jindal announced that $40 million will be available through his proposed budget to Louisiana’s higher education institutions through the Workforce and Innovation for a Stronger Economy (WISE) fund, structured to align higher education programming with Louisiana’s job market. Dr. Woodley, who became the eighth president of the UL System in January 2013, Speaker Kleckley, a higher education funding advocate who represents an area of the state experiencing record job growth, and an LCTCS representative will review the challenge, how the fund could help meet the demand, and look at how the upcoming Legislative Session and budget process will play into on this effort.
The lunch forum and membership in the Acadiana Press Club are open to journalists, media professionals, public relations professionals, public information officers, communication professors and students, retired journalists, civic and political leaders and the general public.
Lunch will be available for purchase from the Chef Gregory food truck, which will be parked in the Advertiser parking lot during the forum. Please plan to arrive in time to order your food before the discussion begins at noon. You can view Chef Gregory’s online menu at https://www.facebook.com/ChefGregoryFoodTruck.
The Acadiana Press Club hosts public lunch meetings on the third Monday of each month. Only members of the working media and Acadiana Press Club members may ask questions during the forum.
Acadiana Press Club April Meeting
Monday, February 10 at 11:45 a.m.
The Daily Advertiser, Community Room
1100 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette
Those interested in joining the Acadiana Press Club can obtain a membership form at the meeting or online at www.acadianapressclub.org.
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