en.Wedoany.com Reported - The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has awarded nearly $5 million to Fletcher Technical Community College in Schriever, La., to provide workforce training and technical assistance to small manufacturers along the shipbuilding corridor in southeastern Louisiana.

The grant comes from the SBA's "Manufacturing in America Empower to Grow" (E2G) funding program. This $50 million national initiative selected 11 institutions to provide hands-on training and technical assistance to small manufacturers in critical industries.

Fletcher's award totals $4.99 million, covering small manufacturers in Terrebonne, Lafourche, Assumption, St. Mary, Iberia, and St. Martin parishes.

Chancellor Dr. Kristine Strickland stated that this investment brings opportunities to the local marine economy industry; the community has generations of expertise in building, maintaining, and supporting vessels for critical industries, and the funding will help Fletcher build on that foundation to cultivate a skilled workforce for small manufacturers, enhancing their ability to grow, compete, and create opportunities locally.

Under the plan, Fletcher will offer hands-on, in-person boot camps in core shipbuilding trades such as ship fitting, pipefitting, pipe welding, and marine electrical, as well as business mentoring in manufacturing, covering federal contracting, system registration, financial management, and capacity building. The project leverages Fletcher's existing workforce training capabilities, industry partnerships, and business resources to support small enterprises in the regional shipbuilding supply chain.

Strickland also noted that Fletcher's mission has always been closely tied to the workforce and economic needs of the communities it serves; this grant will work directly with small businesses to help them strengthen operations and access the training and resources they need.