BATON ROUGE — The award-winning Louisiana Contractors Accreditation Institute is expanding this fall to offer a General Contractors Seminar. The new course will provide technical knowledge essential to a general contractor working within the construction industry in Louisiana.
Louisiana Economic Development, the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors, and the Louisiana Community and Technical College System developed the innovative program to meet the needs of a growing construction industry and to establish construction firms throughout Louisiana.
“The General Contractors Seminar highlights the importance of a strong relationship between LED, LCTCS and the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors,” LED Secretary Don Pierson said. “LED and its partners have the same goal of providing valuable information that will create new opportunities for Louisiana’s small business community. This new offering illustrates our commitment to strengthening a construction industry that’s vital to Louisiana’s economic growth.”
The 10-week course will be offered Sept. 11 to Nov. 15. It will feature two-hour sessions twice a week on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. Topics will include but are not limited to: blueprint reading; building calculations; site work, demolition, and construction; foundations, formwork and retaining walls; finishes; roof structures; structural loads; steel construction; related trades; special construction and equipment; and safety codes.
This program will be offered online via interactive distance-learning to locations in Shreveport-Bossier through the Bossier Parish Community College in Bossier City and the Northwest Louisiana Technical College’s Shreveport campus.
Enrollment is underway and available on a first-come, first-served basis, with a $350 fee for the seminar and materials. For more information, contact Cory Morgan at 225.342.4317 or [email protected]; or Catherine Barber at 985.448.5916 or [email protected].
In 2017, LCAI earned national recognition with an Innovation in Regulation Award from the National Association of State Contractors Licensing Agencies. Awarded only once every three years, the honor recognizes innovation, creativity and excellence in the regulation of the contracting and construction industries.
“The LCAI is a cooperative partnership to help small businesses learn what it takes to begin a company in the construction industry,” said Executive Director Michael McDuff of the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors. “Working together, we are helping provide the essential information that contractors need to be successful. LCAI is a win-win program needed for new businesses, the construction industry and consumers.”
LCAI participants also learn how to collaborate with state agencies, such as securing details on working with the Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development, and information from the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness about how to enhance safety and preparation measures.
“With the renaissance in construction-related projects throughout the state of Louisiana over the last few years, there have been numerous new small to medium firms taking that step into this industry sector, as well as emerging firms looking to grow their businesses,” said LCTCS Director of Workforce Alignment Will Seaman. “The Louisiana Contractors Accreditation Institute Business Law Seminar was successful at providing that foundational level of information with respect to business practices to help better prepare individuals for long-term success. The new course offering, the General Contractors Seminar, is a great next step in the progression of providing these companies that foundational level information needed on the technical side of general construction. As with the business law course, individuals will be exposed to various subject areas, allowing those who lack expertise in certain areas a solid overview and resource for continued education and lifelong learning.”