Shreveport Job Corps Lacking Students, Looking To Recruit For New Year

By Emilee Calametti | The Center Square
 
Job Corps in Shreveport is reportedly lacking students, with enrollment around 40% of capacity, as they request to push their meeting with the Long Range Planning Committee to next year.
 
A representative from Job Corps spoke to the committee on Thursday, with an update on enrollment and next steps after requesting a delay.
 
The program is seeking to assemble a committee so people can put in applications for projects they need help with. Some projects the program does include painting the town hall and building parks and playgrounds.
 
The center is actively recruiting more students. Currently, 119 students are enrolled, with a capacity of 285. The goal each week is to enroll anywhere from 10 to 12 students.
“It’s unfortunate that you’re down to that number of students,” said commissioner Stormy Gage-Watts, “but we understand how you got there."
 
Back in June, the program faced closure due to federal funding cuts, uprooting nearly 285 students from the center. Despite the cuts, the doors were allowed to remain open after U.S. District Judge Andrew Carter Jr. issued a halt.
 
Despite a lack of enrollment, the center representative clarified that funding from the parish would not help. The biggest efforts are pushing enrollment through social platforms.
 
Once enrolled, students train in trades like construction and technology, welding, painting, carpentry, culinary arts, nursing assistant, office administration and several other areas to help throughout the city.
 
The program provides this training and education to low-income residents aged 16 through 24 at no cost to the student, made possible by full federal funding. A biweekly living allowance is given to students in training and increases as training progresses.
 
The government shutdown has reportedly had no effect on the center.