Louisiana creates incentive linked to economic development
Gov. Bobby Jindal has announced a funding increase of $141.5 million for higher education institutions for the next fiscal year, a 6.6 percent increase over the budget for the current fiscal year.
That total includes a new $40 million Workforce and Innovation for a Stronger Economy Fund, an incentive tied to innovation and to fulfilling workforce needs.
Dr. Joseph Savoie, of the University of Louisiana, said the University "favors WISE Fund opportunities.
“The University of Louisiana has been establishing public-private partnerships, we’ve been committed to economic development, and our university is among the top 10 in the U.S. for the percentage of National Science Foundation research expenditures funded by business. The new $40 million investment by the state is a positive step to foster further innovation by higher education.”
Jindal said during a press conference Tuesday that more than 80,000 jobs have been created, and more than $50 billion in private capital investments have been made, in Louisiana since 2008. According to the governor, skilled workers will be needed for major industrial and high-tech projects coming to Louisiana. “That’s why our top priority must be making sure we have the resources to prepare our students and train them for the jobs of the future,” he said.
Dr. Sandra Woodley, president of the University of Louisiana System, said there is a “deep sense of responsibility and urgency” to pick up the pace at the System’s nine universities “to meet growing workforce demands and to achieve national competitiveness.
"The UL System is committed to leveraging the new funding, engaging in unprecedented collaboration across higher education systems, and enhancing our partnerships with business and industry to drive economic development.”
Louisiana.edu
all University of Louisiana references assume 'System'
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Originally Posted by Hammer58
