Lafayette, LA – One Acadiana (1A), the Master’s Guild Association (MGA), and the Lafayette Parish Sheriff’s Office recently completed a pilot construction training program focused on preparing incarcerated individuals for reentry into the workforce.
The Intro to Construction Work Ready Training was held June 17 and 21 at the LPSO Public Safety Complex, with sixteen participants from the Lafayette Reentry Center taking part in the 10-hour course. Participants were selected based on demonstrated readiness for release and compliance with reentry expectations.
Delivered by the Master’s Guild Association, the course introduced participants to essential job-readiness and construction skills—ranging from blueprint reading and measurement to workplace ethics and safe tool use—culminating in a live employer panel. Upon completing both sessions, participants received a Completion Card and became eligible for future training and local employer-sponsored work opportunities.
Instructors from across the region generously volunteered their time, representing Siema Construction, ProSource of Acadiana, Design Center of Acadiana, Harrison Home Improvement, and W.D. & Mary Baker Smith Career Center (LPSS).
“One Acadiana’s workforce and education strategy, ConnectEd, has the objective of making connections between education, training, and industry to ensure more people across the region can access high-demand, high-wage careers,” said One Acadiana President & CEO Troy Wayman. “This program is an example of that work in action, while demonstrating a powerful alignment of workforce development, public safety, and economic growth.”
One Acadiana and MGA extend thanks to Sheriff Mark Garber, Warden Kenny Benoit, and Sgt. Jessica Hall, Reentry Program Supervisor, for their leadership and partnership. “I’m proud of these guys. They showed up, put in the work, and proved they’re ready for something better,” said Sgt. Hall. “Programs like this give them a real shot—and that makes all the difference.”
Kerry Duet, one of the Guild’s certified trainers and owner of Design Center of Acadiana, added: “We’re looking for people who are willing and capable, and we’re meeting them where they are to shine a light on opportunities that exist for them. From what I can tell so far, I think we’re bound to find some hidden talent along the way.”
With thousands of individuals released from Louisiana correctional facilities each year, evidence shows that access to quality work-ready training reduces recidivism and improves employment outcomes—while helping local employers meet critical workforce needs.
The pilot was supported by a $5,000 grant awarded to One Acadiana through the Economic Mobility for Rural Workers Cohort, funded by Ascendium and the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives Foundation (ACCEF). Future sessions will be supported through a U.S. Department of Labor-sponsored grant awarded to UL Lafayette, expanding this collaborative effort.
About One Acadiana
One Acadiana is the chamber of commerce for Lafayette and leading economic development organization for the nine-parish Acadiana region located in south Louisiana. The organization is recognized as one of four across the country to hold both an Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO) accreditation and a five-star U.S. Chamber of Commerce accreditation. With more than 800 members, One Acadiana serves as the voice of the regional business community. The organization is located in the city of Lafayette and serves a region of nearly 700,000 people with a vibrant culture and unique entrepreneurial spirit. Learn more at OneAcadiana.org.