Shreveport, LA – According to the state officials, the MJ Foster Promise Program is a financial aid program funded by the State of Louisiana that will help qualifying residents attend two-year colleges or approved proprietary schools and receive training for high-demand jobs in growing sectors.
According to the Louisiana Community and Technical College System, tens of thousands more adults will need to earn credentials beyond high school to fill jobs in Louisiana over the next decade.
The MJ Foster Promise Program, a new $10.5 million state fund, was created to address that need by providing financial assistance to low-income residents who are 21 years or older and seek credentials required for employment in workforce areas like construction, healthcare, information technology, manufacturing and transportation and logistics.
Entergy’s multi-year contribution will help LCTCS roll out the MJ Foster Promise Program by funding efforts to:
- Reach qualifying residents and encourage them to take advantage of the program
- Enhance student support services as well as the onboarding process
- Improve infrastructure supporting enrollment and connecting students with social services
- Supplement training equipment
Gov. Edwards released the following statement:
“Over the last six years we have made higher education and workforce development a top priority with record investments spanning faculty pay increases to facility improvements to the creation and passage of the MJ Foster Promise Program.
This promise program will help remove the financial barriers for our adult citizens to access the life changing training and career preparation that occurs at our community and technical colleges. Today’s announcement is yet another example of public-private partnerships that work for the people of Louisiana and the state’s economy.
Thank you to Entergy for its generous contribution to this vitally important initiative.”Nearly 24% of Louisiana residents, LCTCS says, hold a high school diploma or less, and receiving training opportunities offered at the state’s community and technical colleges could create a better quality of life for them and their families.”