SLCC unveils automotive training program at VP Chamber meeting

Jermaine Ford ask-ed the members of the Ville Platte Chamber of Commerce for their assistance.
The Director of Corporate College for South Louisiana Community College was one of two guest speakers the chamber hosted at Wednesday’s monthly meeting held at Main Street Pizza and Pub.
Ford was there to talk about the college’s new Automotive Training Program which will be offered at the C.B. Coreil Campus in Ville Platte.
“This is a coming soon program,” Ford said. “We have had automotive dealerships already reach out to us to hire people from the program.”
As it stands right now, two students have expressed interest in the program but Ford said that the program needs to have at least 10 students enrolled for it to begin, hopefully in October.
“If you know anyone in the community that wants to take this career path then send them our way,” Ford said. “We are going to make sure they are properly trained.”
The program will provided two levels of training in the field. There is Level 1 which takes four months to complete and focuses on maintenance and light repair. Then there is also Level 2 which takes six months and is focused on advanced automotive.
The program is open to anyone interested, including local dealerships and shops who want their employees to obtain additional training. Ford also added that he hopes local companies will send their vehicles to be worked on by students, supervised by a trained instructor.
Allison Vanneck with Miles Perret Cancer Center also addressed the chamber at the meeting.
Vanneck spoke about the services that the center, which is funded through donations, provides to cancer patients and their loved ones. The center, which services a 10-parish area, offers everything from medical supplies, wigs, hats, bras, nutritional supplements and other services.
For anyone interested in care or for donating, you can call (337) 984-1920 or visit www.milesperret.org.
In other business, Chamber of Commerce Director Camille Fontenot reminded members about annual dues, that the Cotton Festival is right around the corner (Oct. 11-16), that the Christmas Parade will be held Sunday, Dec. 11 (deadline to enter the parade is Dec. 8.) and that the annual Chamber Christmas Social will held Dec. 8 and suggestions for a venue are welcomed.
Other items approved at the meeting included:
• Membership applications for Cajun Partie, LLC -- Lisa Deshotel and CASA of St. Landry-Evangeline, Inc.