Acadiana’s ability to develop a skilled 21st-century workforce is crucial to our economic future, yet we face a skills gap in critical fields – especially those requiring postsecondary education.
To address this, One Acadiana has championed postsecondary attainment through our 55 by 25 initiative. Through One Acadiana ConnectEd, we are also fostering meaningful connections between business and education to raise awareness of in-demand jobs and the skills needed to fill them. And we are collaborating with partners to expand the labor pool by tapping into underserved populations.
Contact
Maggi Bienvenu, Ed.D.
Director, Business & Education Connections
Maggi@OneAcadiana.org
337-408-3671
55 by 25 Acadiana
In 2019, 1A launched 55 by 25, an initiative with a goal of increasing the proportion of working-age adults in Acadiana with postsecondary degrees, certificates, or other high-value credentials to 55 percent by 2025.
As of the latest Census data (2023), Lafayette Parish is on track to exceed that goal, while our rural parishes are further behind.
One Acadiana ConnectEd
As an outgrowth of the 55 by 25 initiative, 1A launched a new suite of activities we call One Acadiana ConnectEd, which leverage 1A’s unique role in the workforce ecosystem as a connector of business and education.
One Acadiana ConnectEd activities include:
- 1A’s industry roundtable series
- Linking educators with industry
- Promoting career-connected learning
Underserved Populations
1A also supports efforts to expand the labor pool by tapping into underserved populations. These efforts have included participation in Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) Foundation cohort programs, as well as studies conducted for a Gulf Coast Chambers Network (GCCN) planning grant through the EDA’s Recompete Pilot Program.