A Deal Years in the Making
River Parishes Community College Chancellor Quentin Taylor says today’s groundbreaking in Donaldsonville marks a major shift for the region. State leaders began courting a large international company more than two years ago. After months of NDAs, campus visits, and long stretches of silence, Louisiana won the project. The governor and state officials even joined the president in D.C. for the public announcement.
A $30 Million Training Center
The new Hyundai Steel Workforce Training Center breaks ground today. It’s a 50,000-square-foot facility with a $30 million price tag. The center will train local workers for the world’s first low-to-zero-carbon steel plant. Hyundai will bring 1,300 jobs to Ascension Parish, with an average salary of $95,000. Taylor says the project will spark new restaurants, retail, and growth across the River Region.
Training Built for Hyundai and Beyond
RPCC built the curriculum around programs it already offers. Students start in process technology, instrumentation, electrical, or industrial maintenance. They also take a materials science class to preview steel manufacturing. If they want to specialize, they move to the new training center. They finish with an associate degree in electrical, mechanical, maintenance, or advanced manufacturing. The path stays flexible so students can still work in petrochemical jobs.
Recruiting Instructors Worldwide
RPCC is now hiring steel experts from across the globe. Taylor says the college may even send instructors to Korea for training. Hyundai meets with RPCC every week to guide the curriculum and keep the project on track.
A Push for Local Enrollment
Taylor says the next step is simple: awareness. RPCC wants families from St. Charles to West Baton Rouge to understand the opportunity. The college will launch a grassroots outreach effort to drive enrollment and fill local jobs.
“It’s an exciting day,” Taylor says. “And we’re only getting started.”