Congressman Troy Carter Celebrates Federal Grants to Improve Access to Good Jobs, Training in Southeast Louisiana  

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Troy A. Carter, Sr. announced that the U.S. Department of Labor – in partnership with the Appalachian Regional Commission and the Delta Regional Authority – has awarded over $34.3 million to support education, training and supportive services in regions that have suffered significant job losses in the energy extraction industry. Southeast Louisiana will receive a total of $2,427,213 under two grants for NextOp Inc. ($1,143,215) and New Orleans Career Center ($1,283,998).

“Investing in workforce development is a key tool for economic growth in both our urban and rural communities,” said Congressman Carter. “These investments will allow southeast Louisiana to address local industry demands head-on by both developing a skilled workforce and establishing a vibrant talent pool that will attract new businesses to the region.”

“The Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities Initiative provides grants to engage local communities and help build pathways for workers to good-paying jobs,” explained Acting Assistant Secretary for Employment and Training Brent Parton. “The awards we’re announcing today reflect the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to ensure the benefits of its investments in climate, clean energy, training and workforce development reach and serve disadvantaged communities.” 

These investments will complement efforts funded by the Inflation Reduction Act and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act to create good-paying, effective jobs that help achieve our nation’s goals of strengthening our nation’s infrastructure and fighting the climate crisis.

In keeping with Executive Order 14008, signed by President Biden, the WORC Initiative aligns with the Justice40 initiative, a whole-of-government approach to deliver 40 percent of the overall benefits of certain federal investments to communities historically marginalized, underserved and overburdened by pollution. 

The WORC Initiative helps rural communities address historic inequities and to produce good, quality jobs for dislocated and other workers in rural communities in the Appalachian and Delta regions. The grants also help communities diversify their local economies by developing a skilled workforce and providing equitable access to underserved and underrepresented communities. 

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