A view of downtown Shreveport, La. Photo: Emilee Calametti / The Center Square
By Darren Svan | The Center Square
Shreveport’s public-private economic partnership with Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson may finally deliver workforce training for residents of Ledbetter Heights who were promised greater access to job opportunities that were never delivered.
Jackson agreed to deliver a contemporary cinema arts training program to the residents of this high-poverty, traditionally underserved neighborhood.
Shreveport leaders are set to consider a new arrangement with Jackson’s production company, G-Unit Film & Television, at Tuesday’s City Council meeting.
It would extend the original lease of Millennium Studios – now rebranded as G-Unit Studios – from 45 to 99 years, and include what’s called the Empowering People in Careers Center (EPIC), a large metal structure once referred to as the “Back Building” or “Mill Building.”
The Bayou Grande Apartments in Ledbetter Heights, which sits adjacent to G-Unit Studios, is a $25 million mixed-income affordable housing complex funded with federal grant money. The complex was built in phases, with the first three phases completed between 2022-2024.
The federal Choice Neighborhoods Initiative that helped fund it requires the city to make job training and workforce opportunities available for eligible residents to improve their economic stability. The EPIC building, paid for by Housing and Urban Development, was selected for that purpose, and city officials say Shreveport Regional Economic Council and Southern University at Shreveport had planned to utilize the facility.
But Bayou Grande residents never received the education training benefits that were promised.
“That's why (G-Unit’s) cooperative endeavor agreement earlier has to do with the workforce development, which really had not occurred before,” Mayor Tom Arceneaux said at a council meeting last month. “So they're not just taking it over, they're actually generating a workforce development that's intended to provide employment opportunities and training for the people in the Choice Program, which is the Bayou Grande facility that is right nearby.”
Kimberly Harvell, executive director of Workforce & Continuing Education at Southern University, said the training program never got off the ground and they are no longer affiliated with it.
During Shreveport’s film production period of success, about 15 years ago, Millennium Studios used the EPIC building’s sound stages, visual effects space and offices to support movies and television. The company struggled economically and production slowly dried up.
Shreveport bought the property in 2022, eventually leasing it to Jackson in late 2023 for 30 years, with an option to extend another 15 years.
After taking an overview of the situation, G-Unit staff realized that allowing an outside organization to provide training in the building while productions are underway would present security concerns, city officials said.
An amended 99-year lease will give G-Unit site control over the entire complex, with the added responsibility of delivering career development programs aimed at supporting the community.
Bayou Grande residents will receive first priority as the target group for programs and skills training. According to city documents, training options will involve camera, audio, wardrobe, production design, lighting, rigging, makeup and hair, music, postproduction and studio operation.
The plan is to serve about 30 students per year who work in 13-week cohorts. Participants will receive pay during training activities, according to documents.
If the agreement is approved by council members, the EPIC building will be rebranded “G-Unit EPIC Center Stage.”