Turning Member Leadership into Workforce Action

GBRIA members lead inside their facilities and across the state. Their operational standards and long-term workforce needs shape decisions far beyond the plant gate. GBRIA’s job is to ensure those real-world demands are heard and understood by state agencies and education partners.

Driving the State Strategy

GBRIA connects members’ workforce demands to the state’s primary workforce authorities and training partners:

• Louisiana Works: GBRIA represents member companies on the Workforce Investment Council (WIC), directly influencing how statewide funding is prioritized. Through the Industry-Based Certification Council (IBCC), we ensure that high school credentials meet industry hiring standards. This partnership also supported a statewide skilled trades campaign, including two Super Bowl ad placements.
• ABC: GBRIA collaborates with ABC Pelican and New Orleans/Bayou chapters to bolster the craft workforce. Through the Cents per Hour program, your participation directly funds the contractor training and credentialing that your projects depend on.
• LCTCS: GBRIA partners with community college leadership to align Craft and Process Technology programs with employer demand, supporting recruitment efforts and competitive grants to ensure graduates are prepared for industrial operations.

Strengthening the Workforce Infrastructure

A reliable workforce pipeline requires sustained, targeted investment. Through the FUEL initiative, GBRIA leverages funding to expand programs like our Educator Externships, bringing teachers out of the classroom and into the industry so they can better guide the next generation.

As the managing organization for the Louisiana Construction Education Foundation, funding is directed where it has the most impact: welding lab upgrades, the LSU Construction Management facility, and scholarships that keep the talent pipeline moving toward skilled trade careers.

Collective Voice in Action

The Workforce Development Committee is where this influence takes shape. When members engage, workforce decisions reflect the true needs of our member facilities, not assumptions about them. Your active participation ensures that our strategy meets industry needs today and tomorrow.