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Story Archives: NOVA wants more money from city


NOVA wants more money from city
by Scott Rogers - posted Wednesday, March 18th, 2009 @ 8:58 pmE-mail Story E-mail Story | Print Story Print Story 
The city of Monroe will decide next week whether to allocate $50,000 to continue supporting NOVA, a new workforce development group.

NOVA stands for New Opportunities Vision Achievement. It aims to provide quality job training for eligible residents.

The city last year gave NOVA $100,000 to begin its operations.

Paul West, formerly the CEO at Livingwell Foundation, took over as NOVA's executive director. He accepted the position in November.

NOVA officials discussed the proposed $50,000 appropriation with the Monroe City Council last week during its regular meeting. A resolution to allocate the money was introduced during the meeting. Councilmen will take final action on the matter Tuesday.

NOVA board chairman Eva Dyann Wilson told the city council that the new workforce development organization already had made significant strides since beginning operations months ago.

NOVA is a labor market intermediary that connects employers, training providers, potential trainees and community leaders, Wilson said. Recruitment is conducted through local church congregations and a counselor.

Currently there are 15 trainees enrolled in a manufacturing program through Delta Community College. Six companies have agreed to hire them at a starting salary of $14.50 per hour with benefits, Wilson said.

"We thank the city for having faith in us when we were simply an idea," Wilson said. "NOVA is a win-win for Monroe and our region because employers are attracted to communities with a trained workforce. NOVA will work with them (employers) to design training tailored to meet their needs. This will compliment what our local officials are doing to bring employers here."

The city's $100,000 investment last year has already paid off, West said.

Other contributors last year to NOVA were Van-Trow Toyota and St. Francis Hospital, which each gave $7,500; and the Workforce Investment Board, which gave $280,000.

Once people enrolled in NOVA's program graduate and begin work, West said the city's $100,000 investment will have a "projected economic impact of $451,360."

He said NOVA officials have been busy enrolling more people in the program.

"We are continuing to see results and continuing to help people find employment," West said. "Each day we see people come into our doors. NOVA will continue to help people so their lives will forever be changed."

Any northeast Louisiana resident can participate in NOVA as long as he or she is 18 years of age or older and lives at less than 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Participants also are required to have a high school diploma or GED.

NOVA is housed in the Workforce Investment Board office at 1301 Hudson Lane. For more information about NOVA and the services it offers, call 362-3395.
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