Partners
The Rapides Foundation
The Rapides Foundation is a philanthropic organization that develops initiatives and provides grants to organizations that share the Foundation's mission to improve the health status of Central Louisiana. The Rapides Foundation focuses its work in three strategic areas: Healthy People, to improve access to healthcare and promote healthy behaviors; Education, to increase the level of educational attainment and achievement as the primary path to improved economic, social and health status; and Healthy Communities, to improve economic opportunity and family income, and enhance civic and community opportunities for more effective leaders and organizations.
The Rapides Foundation created The Orchard Foundation to work with schools, businesses and communities to improve educational opportunities in Central Louisiana. The Orchard Foundation administers many of the programs developed under The Rapides Foundation’s Education Initiative.
"“Through its Economic Development Initiative, The Rapides Foundation has a goal to build a cohesive and effective workforce development system that meets the demands of employers, has the capacity to quickly respond to change, and provides training for high-wage jobs. We look at our partnership with CLTCC as key in meeting that goal. CLTCC’s workforce skills and development training gives Central Louisiana a more highly skilled workforce, which attracts better jobs for all income levels and generates more wealth in our communities.”
The Rapides Parish School District
The Rapides Parish School District is the largest school district in Central Louisiana. It serves about 24,000 students at more than 50 schools in both rural and urban areas. CLTCC partners with the School Board and district administration to offer dual enrollment courses and give students a head start on college. They can earn industry-based credentials, hone skills and complete credit hours before they graduate from high school. They can seamlessly transition to CLTCC to finish a diploma or degree program.
Louisiana State University of Alexandria
Louisiana State University of Alexandria is a public undergraduate university in the heart of Central Louisiana. It is a unit of the LSU System and operates under the Louisiana Board of Regents. An articulation agreement allows CLTCC students to transfer credits for some courses from the two-year institution to LSUA. They can transfer LSUA credits in English, biology, math, history, speech and other general education courses earned at the community college to equivalent university courses.
"Rather than that, there's an open door, and that enables us to move students through the pipeline more quickly. It reduces the opportunity costs of going to college and university and enables those students to move on to professional schools, graduate schools or to the workforce better prepared and having expended less money and less time."
Northwestern State University
Northwestern State University is a public state university that offers undergraduate and graduate education. It is part of the University of Louisiana System and operates under the Louisiana Board of Regents. An articulation agreement with CLTCC allows students to transfer to NSU credits in biology, English, math, orientation, speech and other courses earned at the two-year school to equivalent university courses. Students also can apply credits earned at NSU toward the completion of their associate degree, diploma or certification at the community college.
These agreements benefit four-year institutions by expanding their reach, as CLTCC serves students throughout Central Louisiana with campuses in Alexandria, Cottonport, Ferriday, Jena, Leesville, Oakdale and Winnfield, and providing students with college experience who are ready to get to work and be successful at a four-year institution.
"CLTCC will be a game-changer in workforce development, for economic development for the entire region. It develops the kind of talent Louisiana is going to have to have to realize more than $80 billion in industrial expansion."
The Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce
The Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce serves as the voice for businesses at local, state and federal levels of government. It provides monthly programs and annual events for members, promotes business and contributes to the growth of Cenla and the state by working with other Chamber coalition partners, legislative representatives and community and civic organizations.
The City of Alexandria
The city of Alexandria is the parish seat of Rapides Parish with about 48,000 residents. CLTCC’s relationship with the city is growing ever closer as they work together toward a brand-new downtown Alexandria campus for the college.
City of Pineville
Just north of the Red River in Rapides Parish lies the city of Pineville, which has a population of more than 14,000. It helps make up the Alexandria Metropolitan Statistical Area. CLTCC serves Pineville students and faculty at its nearby Alexandria campus and administration works with government leaders to meet mutual goals of a skilled workforce, educated community and improved economy.
The Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance
The Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance (CLEDA) is an organization that consists of economic development entities from Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon and Winn parishes. Its mission to help people prosper in “vibrant, thriving communities” aligns with CLTCC’s mission to provide a skilled workforce, educate the community and boost economic development.
Louisiana Economic Development
Louisiana Economic Development (LED) FastStart is a state workforce development program that provides customized employee recruitment, screening, training development and training delivery for eligible new or expanding companies.
The Town of Jena
The town of Jena is parish seat of LaSalle Parish with a population of about 4,000. It boasts CLTCC’s Rod Brady Campus, which offers programs in business office administration, patient care technician, practical nursing and welding.
The Rapides Business and Career Solutions Center
The Rapides Business and Career Solutions Center is an organization based in Alexandria that works to connect those who need jobs with employers in need of workers. Its motto of “we put people to work” perfectly aligns with CLTCC’s mission to produce a pipeline of skilled workers for business and industry in Central Louisiana.