Delgado to Build New Campus in Churchill Technology and Business Park

(Avondale, La) — The Churchill Technology and Business Park is set to welcome a new tenant to the area in the near future. The Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO), in conjunction with Delgado Community College, is pleased to announce plans to build the Delgado River City Campus at the West Bank technology park.

The $15 million, 45,000-square-foot facility will serve 3,000 students enrolled in programs that will support Mississippi River commerce, including transportation/logistics, maritime technology, automotive technology and marine engineering. It will be located on more than five acres of land behind the Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy, a magnet school for regional students.

The announcement comes months after Governor Bobby Jindal signed Senate Bill 204 into law. The bill, called the “Facilities with a Purpose” plan, provides the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) with better opportunities to invest in and fund 29 projects around the state. All of the projects are imperative to the continued growth of the Louisiana economy, focusing in on key industry sectors that have the most opportunity for growth. Of those 29 projects, six of them are being spearheaded by Delgado, including the River City Campus at Churchill.

With approximately 500-acres of developable land on the West Bank of Jefferson Parish, the Churchill Technology and Business Park provided the ideal location for the River City Campus. Not only will the new campus be close to both the Harvey Canal and the Mississippi River, but it will also be just minutes away from the NOLA Motorsports Park, the Tournament Players Club and the Alario Center. This area, which is currently being rebranded as Fairfield, provides vast opportunities for development on the West Bank.

“We are thrilled to work with Delgado in order to bring the River City Campus project to fruition,” says JEDCO Executive Director Jerry Bologna. “Workforce development is a key component to improving the economic landscape in Jefferson Parish. The River City Campus will play a vital role in the continued success of our community. Not only will it create a workforce pool that will attract new business to our region, but it will keep our young people in Jefferson Parish. We look forward to a long partnership with Delgado and remain dedicated to assisting in the college’s long-term success.”

Dr. Sullivan, Chancellor of Delgado Community College, adds: “The new Delgado River City Campus in Jefferson Parish is an exciting partnership between JEDCO and Delgado Community College, which will be transformational for the business development and economic growth of our region.  Delgado has played an important role educating the workforce for Mississippi River-related industries and businesses for almost a century, and we look forward to enhancing this relationship through this partnership and the development of the new campus.”

Construction is scheduled to begin in 2014.

About Churchill Technology and Business Park: Home to JEDCO, the JEDCO Business Innovation Center, the JEDCO Conference Center and the Patrick F. Taylor Science and Technology Academy, the Churchill Technology and Business Park is the largest master-planned site in the region. JEDCO owns the first 90 acres of land, but there are more than 500 acres of additional land open for development. Churchill is the largest master-planned site in the region. Just 20 minutes from New Orleans and 12 miles from the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, Churchill is right at the heart of the largest intermodal transportation system in the South. Learn more about Churchill at www.churchillpark.org.

About Delgado: Founded in 1921, Delgado Community College has the highest enrollment (more than 18,000 in spring 2013) among all colleges and universities in New Orleans, and the second highest in Louisiana. Delgado provides students with a comprehensive array of education and training services available in the Greater New Orleans region. As well as offering associate’s degrees and transferable college credits, Delgado provides diplomas and certificates in many professional and technical areas. For more information, visit www.dcc.edu