KEY TAKEAWAYS: Nunez Community College will offer Plaquemines Parish‘s first higher education program beginning in Fall 2026. Dual-enrollment students can enroll in introductory welding and electrical courses at a temporary Belle Chasse site. The initiative is supported by Plaquemines Parish Government, the Plaquemines Parish School Board, SME and industry partners. Future plans include a permanent campus location and expanded workforce training programs for manufacturing, maritime and energy industries.   Nunez Community College will launch the first higher education program in Plaquemines Parish this fall, expanding workforce training opportunities through a partnership with local government, school officials and industry organizations. Beginning in Fall 2026, dual-enrollment students will be able to enroll in introductory welding and electrical courses at a temporary Nunez site in Plaquemines Parish. College officials said a permanent campus location is also being planned. The initiative is the result of a partnership among Nunez Community College, Plaquemines Parish Government, the Plaquemines Parish School Board, the Society of Manufacturing Engineers and other industry partners. Officials described the program as a significant step toward expanding access to postsecondary education and workforce development opportunities within the parish. Nunez was one of six colleges selected by the Society of Manufacturing Engineers to help lead the Gulf Coast Maritime Workforce Imperative, a regional workforce development effort spanning Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. College leaders said participation in the initiative helped support the expansion into Plaquemines Parish. The initial curriculum will focus on welding and electrical studies, fields that local employers have identified as high-demand occupations. Nunez said the courses are designed to provide students with hands-on training that can lead to industry certifications, employment opportunities and continued education. Future plans call for the addition of instrumentation courses and other workforce training programs tailored to the needs of the region’s manufacturing, maritime and energy sectors. “We are excited to bring new educational opportunities directly to Plaquemines Parish students,” Nunez Chancellor Tina Tinney said in a statement. “This partnership allows us to meet students where they are while preparing them for high-demand careers that support the local and regional workforce.” Local officials said the program could help address workforce needs as industrial investment continues throughout southeast Louisiana. “The establishment of Nunez Community College in Plaquemines Parish is a significant investment in our workforce and local economy,” said Kelly DiMarco, director of economic development and tourism for Plaquemines Parish Government. “As investment continues across the manufacturing, maritime, and energy sectors, access to a skilled workforce is critical to supporting existing employers and attracting future opportunities to Plaquemines Parish.” In addition to serving high school students, Nunez said it expects to expand offerings to adult learners as the program grows. The college is also recruiting instructors for teaching positions at the Plaquemines site ahead of its opening. The expansion marks a milestone for Plaquemines Parish, which currently lacks a higher education institution within its borders. Officials said the partnership is intended to create local pathways to training and employment while supporting long-term economic development goals. Nunez Community College, based in Chalmette, serves students across southeast Louisiana and offers associate degrees, certificates and workforce training programs. The institution is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges. ...read more read less