A new program by Acadiana Workforce Solutions is looking to connect rural communities to jobs in the healthcare field.

The Country Road Inclusion Project was created to tackle wealth, job, and transportation disparities in small and rural areas throughout the Acadiana region.

In collaboration with Ochsner Lafayette General Hospital and Opelousas General Health System, the program aims to fill the nearly 700 needed healthcare jobs in the area, said AWS Project Manager Keithen Domingue.

“We do a lot of research, and it came back conclusively that the healthcare system has a labor shortage,” Domingue said.

The program is funded by a $1.5 million grant from the Workforce Opportunity for Rural Communities Initiative through the U.S. Department of Labor. It will run for the next three years. Other partners in the program include the St. Landry Community Action Agency, South Louisiana Community College, LSU Eunice and Tranfr VR services.

Domingue said that his team will help launch people into a career in the healthcare industry, whether they are just out of college or looking to advance in their field. The program will also help get people into positions by paying a portion of their salary while they gain real-world experience.

The program will offer transportation services to and from school or a job, Domingue said, adding that lack of transportation was found to be one of the largest hurdles facing rural residents in Acadiana.

“We feel that those that live in urban areas have better access to jobs and going to school. They can jump on a bus or catch an Uber. But those that live way out there in Crowley and Jennings don’t have that transportation to get to those spots. It limits their opportunities,” Domingue said.

The program will also offer tuition assistance and career counseling services.  

The goal is to spur economic activity in small towns and build up their workforces while allowing people to remain in their hometowns rather than moving to Lafayette or out of state to seek better opportunities.

The program officially launches on Jan. 15. To apply for the program, click here.