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Plan: Louisiana PYs 2020-2023
Combined Plan C

Section: Adult, Dislocated Worker, and Youth Activities

Narrative: a. 1. A.

Published
Located in:

a. 1. A. Identify the regions and the local workforce development areas designated in the State

View corresponding narrative from PYs 2018-2019

Current Narrative:

The Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act of 2014 calls for realigned workforce, education and economic development systems. One of the cornerstones of this legislation is to define common regions across multiple state agencies, most notably workforce, education and social assistance programs.

 The LWC’s Research and Statistics division developed a report based on seven of the eight factors proposed in the new legislation including: population centers, commuting patterns, industrial composition, location quotient, local labor market conditions, accessibility of community colleges and geographic boundaries.

The following map illustrates 8 workforce regions in Louisiana.  Within the 8 regions are 15 local workforce development areas (LWDAs). Previously, there were 18 LWDAs under the Workforce Investment Act (WIA).  

Regions of the state: Region 1 is found in the area of the southeastern corner of the state and includes Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. James, St. John the Baptist, and St. Tammany parishes. Region 2 is in just above region 1 and includes Ascension, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Livingston, Pointe Coupee, St. Helena, Tangipahoa, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana parishes. Region 3 is just west of region 1 and includes Assumption, Lafourche, and Terrebonne parishes. Region 4 is in the south central area of the state and includes Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary, and Vermilion parishes. Region 5 is the southwest most portion of the state and includes Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, and Vernon parishes. Region 6 is the most central section of the state and includes Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Rapides, and Winn parishes. Region 7 is in the most northern and western portions of the state and includes Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine, and Webster parishes. Region 8 is in the northeastern most section of the state and includes Caldwell, East Carroll, Franklin, Jackson, Madison, Morehouse, Ouachita, Richland, Tensas, Union, and West Carroll parishes.

LWDAs 82 (Morehouse, Union and West Carroll) and 83 (Caldwell, East Carroll, Franklin, Madison, Richland and Tensas parishes) were merged after recommendation of the WIC at its June 15, 2015 meeting and the governor’s approval of the recommendation on July 14, 2015.

 Under WIOA, local LWDAs 50 (Allen Beauregard and Vernon parishes) and 51 (Cameron, Calcasieu and Jefferson Davis parishes) requested to be re-designated as a single local area within Region 5 in accordance with WIOA Section 106(b)(4). At its September 15, 2015 meeting, the WIC approved the request of LWDAs 50 and 51 to recommend re-designation to the governor.  The LWC Secretary, as designee of the governor, approved the re-designation recommendation on September 29, 2015.

Subsequent to the completion of initial designation, Workforce Development Boards 40 and 41 merged. 

As of 2017, the State has 15 Local Workforce Development Boards.