Central Louisiana manufacturers impact economy, have many job opportunities

The first Friday of October is celebrated as National Manufacturing Day but Louisiana Central, the region’s economic and development organization, celebrates it for the entire month.

The reason is twofold, said Lafe Jones, Vice President and Executive Director of Industry Relations at Louisiana Central. One is to make people aware of the financial and overall impact manufacturing has in the 10-parish region served Louisiana Central.

Based on 2022 numbers, manufacturing makes up $1.71 billion of the gross regional product in the region, he said.

“Our goal is through Manufacturing Month is for people to have more awareness, more appreciation for it,” said Jones.

The second is to make people, particularly students, aware of the job opportunities.

Many of these companies present viable job opportunities for the future of our youth, said Jones. Louisiana Central works with the area’s industries, higher education as well as Kindergarten through 12th-grade students to do what they can to make students aware of jobs and prepare them for future employment.

Jones said they want students to see pathways that can lead them into jobs right out of high school.

“Or into a short-term training program or certification. Or into community and technical college. Or into a four-year degree and beyond. People are needed at all those levels,” he said.

Louisiana Central has a website with information available for educators about tours at local manufacturing facilities and who to contact. Their job is also to be a connector between industry and educators, said Javonti Thomas, Program Coordinator at Louisiana Central.

Some of those companies and schools like Central Louisiana Technical Community College will also host their own events where students and others can get information about different manufacturing jobs available, and training and education needed to get one.

Students won’t be the only ones learning about manufacturing. During the month, representatives from different “green and clean energy” manufacturing companies will give presentations at the City of Alexandria Rotary meetings every Tuesday, said Thomas.

Manufacturing is also a good option for those who are trying to reenter society or find a career because manufacturers are second-chance employers, he said. In partnership with the United Way, a Second Chance Job Fair will be held from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Alexandria Mall.

“A lot of people don't necessarily think that there are really opportunities available for people. So for us, it's just an opportunity to show people that there are opportunities to earn a high-paying or high-wage paying job,” said Thomas.

At a manufacturing summer camp held in June for students, Thomas said he was surprised to learn that a  number of manufacturers were second-chance employers. At the last job fair they hosted in April, many manufacturers offered people conditional interviews and offers.

“So for the industry, it proved to be a good tactic for them to recruit employees,” he said.

The region is made up of a diverse mix of manufacturers that make products from wood, chemicals, steel and aluminum. They include national companies and locally, family-owned businesses.

RoyOMartin and LaSalle Lumber Company make wood-based products, said Jones. Then there is Hayes Manufacturing in Pineville. Their core business is fabrication, welding and machining.

Crest Industries, also headquartered in Pineville, is made up of many businesses, continued Jones. It specializes in electric power delivery, industrial services, distribution, specialty chemicals and natural resources.

Then there is Procter & Gamble in Pineville which makes laundry pods and liquid detergent.

Now, industries like SunGas Renewables and Ucore are bringing their “clean and green energy” businesses to Central Louisiana.

Oil and gas aren’t going away and will continue to be needed, said Jones.

“These are just additional alternative opportunities and it's great to see Central Louisiana be in a position because of our natural resources, because of our location, because of our workforce,” said Jones.

Louisiana Central doesn’t focus on attracting certain industries but they do target what makes sense for the region, he said. What they do is try to network and make others aware of what’s available here in Central Louisiana.

“We are open to leads. We receive leads all the time, some of them from the state, some of them we generate ourselves from our own marketing,” he said. “And we're open to whatever is going to be good jobs and good for our good for our region.”

This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Central Louisiana manufacturers impact economy, have many job opportunities