No stoppage here: Young Memorial work unaffected by halt in college construction

Despite Gov. John Bel Edwards’ decision to put a halt on community college construction, South Central Louisiana Technical College Young Memorial Campus will continue with the building plans of Hugh & Byrnes Young Marine & Petroleum Safety Training Center.

Over half of Louisiana Community and Technical College System’s $280 million list of projects are placed on hold, according to The Associated Press. The projects will be delayed for an unknown period of time.

Most affected are projects that were not under contract by March 31. The safety training center was under contract by last November, said Earl Meador, Director of the Young Memorial Campus.

“We were definitely ahead of that,” Meador said. “We were under contract by last November. So we’re in good shape.”

The training center will be a prefabricated building, so much of the construction has yet to be seen at the site. It is 12,225 square feet.

It is an energy-efficient, utilitarian classroom building for the marine operations safety program.

Parts of the building are being assembled in other locations. All parts are expected to be delivered and completely assembled in August.

The contract cost to build the new center is $2,931,775.

“I was so happy that our community had set forth so quickly, and through all the support of the Young Foundation and others, there’s no challenge at all to our project,” Meador.

Of the 29 projects listed, 10 are complete or underway, LCTCS President Monty Sullivan said. He told the House Appropriations Committee other projects will “not proceed until further notice,” said The Associated Press.

The state was expected to borrow about $250 million for the college system. And an additional $34 million was raised by private donations.

Under legislation, at least 12 percent has to be funded by private sources.

“It’s a real concern about how we’re going to go forward and be able to keep the obligation that we have to the communities,” Sullivan said in a news report.

New partners

Young Memorial partnered with LeBeouf Brothers Towing to initiate a working group of South Louisiana inland marine operators, representing over 2,000 mariners.

This initiative renews focus on marine training programs, which includes plans for a state-of-the-art vessel bridge simulator.

The school and LeBeouf will share the responsibility of assessing current and planned marine training curriculum to ensure courses are relevant and effective for industry needs.

LeBeouf also donated 10 marine diesel engines to the school. The donated engines will be used in their diesel technician program and as primary training props on the marine firefighting field.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.