In the News

The Delta Regional Authority announced this week that it will invest over $50,000 in the Greater Beauregard Chamber of Commerce’s efforts to make DeRidder a “work-ready community.”

Gov. John Bel Edwards’ office recently announced that the DRA planned to disburse $3.3 million in grants across the state. Coupled with public and private partnerships, its total investment will exceed $9 million, with $55,640 being dedicated to the Beauregard chamber. Lisa Adams, executive director of the chamber, said the funds will be used to help create a regional sustainability workforce.

Adams said that by spreading the funds between the chamber, the School Board and the local Business and Career Solutions Center, she will bring the ACT WorkKeys assessment program to the area. 

“This will be a huge benefit for this community and for the next generation of this area’s workforce,” Adams said. “For high school seniors who may not feel comfortable taking the college path right away, this is a great step into a career, and for employees currently in the workforce this will help them to seek out their full potential with their employer.”

The WorkKeys assessment measures a person’s workplace skills. Those who complete it earn a National Career Readiness Certificate, which Adams said makes the holder more appealing to a potential employer.

“With that NCRC certificate, they are guaranteed an interview by their potential employer,” she said. “That certificate tells everything about them as a potential employee and exactly where their skills are greatest.”

Adams said officials with the DeRidder mill Ingevity provided testing to 117 of its employees in an effort to understand their individual skill sets. The chamber, she said, will make the assessment available to all local companies.

Chamber president Glenda Dean said the introduction of the WorkKeys program could have far-reaching benefits for the entire parish.

Last year, officials announced that they had certified a development-ready 1,200-acre “mega site” at the parish airport. Now, Dean said that the follow-up goal will be complete with the introduction of the WorkKeys program.

“The first thing site selectors look for in locations for new industries is certified property. We have that, and now we can offer them a documented work force, which is the second thing that selectors seek out,” Dean said.

“So, we believe this grant will ultimately help us in attracting a new industry to DeRidder.”

Adams said the grant was a product of unified efforts with state Reps. Dorothy Sue Hill and James K. Armes, and U.S. Rep. Mike Johnson. 

The funds are expected to be made available in early 2018, and luncheons are being planned to educate businesses on the benefits of using the NCRC in their hiring process.