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Reprinted from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Food Systems and Rural Development Newsletter Seeds of Change Issue 8, May-June, 2001

Local Industry Sparks Economic Growth in Delta Community

Stimulating collaboration between local organizations and industry to increase employment opportunities for local residents - the primary focus of the Northeast Louisiana Delta Community Development Corporation (CDC).

With assistance from the W.K. Kellogg Foundation's Mid South Delta Initiative (MSDI), the Northeast Louisiana Delta CDC is concentrating on strengthening three local industries - shipbuilding, prefabrication housing, and death care.

Northeast Louisiana Delta CDC project coordinator Ruby Williams' focus is on expanding the local shipbuilding industry. With support from the Louisiana Department of Labor and the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, Williams lured Avondale Industries, a New Orleans-based shipbuilding company, to the Madison Parish area. The 50-acre port of Madison Parish now serves as the perfect location for Avondale's new steel fabrication facility.

"We wanted to increase the employment opportunities for our residents, particularly the low-income and low-skilled residents," said Williams. "I think everyone involved saw this as an opportunity to create measurable change in the human and economic vitality of the region."

Since the facility opened in 1998, 150 people from Madison and East Carroll Parishes-welders, ship fitters, support staff and office personnel-have been hired for production positions. "This is a significant number of people, when you take into consideration that the unemployment level before Avondale came to the area was at 14 percent, and today is around 10 percent," said Williams.

The shipyard's higher pay scale also has boosted the area's economy and has improved the well-being of the community. Avondale's entry into the local welding job market has also caused other employers to increase wages and benefits for their employees.

In 1999, Avondale partnered with Litton Industries to form Litton Avondale Industries. This merger makes possible further expansion at the Madison Parish site, and could bring even more jobs to the area.

For more information contact:
Ruby Williams
Project Coordinator
Northeast Louisiana Delta Community Development Corporation
Ph: 318/574-6300
Fax: 318/574-3132
http://www.msdi.org/partners/northeast.html