FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 22, 2009

BATON ROUGE - Recently property purchased from Act 391 bond proceeds for the first 32.2 acres of the future 74.2 acres home for L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College in Houma officially closed. On hand for the closing were Louisiana Community and Technical College System Board Chair and LCTCS Facilities Corporation President Stevie Smith, Fletcher Chancellor Travis Lavigne, Attorney Robert Atkinson of Brezeale, Sachse & Wilson, LLP, Attorney Harold Block of Block & Bouterie, and Developer Jake Giardina and Partners.

"We are very pleased to be moving forward with this process and are thrilled that we will be able to provide a state-of-the-art facility for Fletcher students to attend. We're confident that this facility will provide what is necessary for the future of Fletcher and its continuing service to the community and to local business and industry that are in need of a solid, trained workforce," said Stevie Smith.

"We are appreciative to Governor Bobby Jindal and his administration for their support and assistance in moving this project forward," said LCTCS President Dr. Joe D. May. " This is a great day for Fletcher as well as the community and technical college system. It will definitely help us in our ongoing mission to train Louisiana's future workforce and provide an outstanding education for our citizens. This is a big win for the community that Fletcher serves, and we are looking forward to bringing more of our Act 391 facilities projects online in the very near future."

Fletcher's record enrollment over the last several years has resulted in the need for a new campus to accommodate its current student population and to foster additional growth to continue meeting industry and workforce development needs in the area. This fall, Fletcher experienced its largest enrollment in the college's history of over 1,800 students. Fletcher was also recently named the 29^th fastest growing community college in the nation by the national publication Community College Week in the "less than 2500 students" category.

"The development of the new campus for Fletcher Technical Community College is a historical event for our area. This is a culmination of years of support and dedication from our community and the local legislative delegation," commented Fletcher's Chancellor Travis Lavigne. "The expansion could not have come at a more appropriate time; it will allow Fletcher, in coordination with our local university, to broaden the post secondary opportunities and services for students and businesses in our region. "

In October, Governor Bobby Jindal announced a $2.7 million allocation of funds to assist in the purchase of the remaining 38.6 acres needed for the new campus. Construction on the new campus will begin during the next fiscal year.

A suitable site for the new campus development was selected in December 2008. The 74.2 acre site was vetted and selected by a site selection committee comprised of the architect for the Board of Regents, the facilities director of the LCTCS, an engineer from Facility Planning and control, and the Chancellor of Fletcher Technical Community College.

The new campus will be located on Louisiana Highway 311, proximal to US Highway 90, the future I-49 corridor, strategically placing the new campus for ready access from the parishes serviced by the college.

Fletcher Technical Community College is an open admission, two year public institution offering technical and academic programs to the citizens of Terrebonne, Lafourche, Assumption, St. James and St. Charles parishes. Fletcher's long standing presence in the community and commitment to industry identifies the college as a significant resource in providing businesses with a skilled workforce.

In October 2009, the first phase of bond projects for the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) officially closed. The nine projects identified for the first phase are a part of the system's $173.7 million bond package of 23 projects for 14 community and technical colleges throughout the state. The college bond projects were authorized through Act 391 during the 2007 Legislative Session.

A full list of the Act 391 bond projects are listed below:

Phase 1 Series 2009 Bonds:

- Northwest Campus of Louisiana Technical College, New Campus (Minden) - $14,700,000
Construction of Campus on State Owned Land, construction

- Huey P. Long LTC Campus of Louisiana Technical College, New Campus (Winnfield) - $10,500,000
Construction of Campus on State Owned Land, construction tentatively scheduled

- Young Memorial LTC Campus of Louisiana Technical College, New Building (Morgan City) - $5,460,000
Construction of new classroom building on current campus, construction

- Shelby M. Jackson LTC Campus of Louisiana Technical College, New Building (Ferriday) - $4,725,000
Repair of current and construction of new space, construction

- Gulf Area LTC Campus of Louisiana Technical College, New Buildings (Abbeville) - $6,300,000
Repair of current buildings and improvements to campus, construction

- Florida Parishes LTC Campus, Land and Design for New Campus (Greensburg) - $300,000
Purchase of land and design of campus

- Westside LTC Campus (Plaquemine) - $3,150,000
Donation of Land by School Board and Construction of Campus

- Elaine P. Nunez Community College, Improvements to Hurricane Damaged Buildings. (Chalmette) - $1,618,162
Improvements to Buildings Repaired with FEMA funds

- L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College, Land and Design for New Campus (Houma) - $4,000,000
Purchase of land and design of campus, design

Phase 2 Series 2010 Bonds, Projected:

- Evangeline Campus of Louisiana Technical College, New Buildings (St. Martinville) - $8,400,000

- Florida Parishes Campus of Louisiana Technical College, Construction (Greensburg) - $8,100,000

- L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College, Construction (Houma) - $18,365,000

- Elaine P. Nunez Community College Impvts to Hurricane Damaged Bldgs. (Chalmette) -$3,853,859

- SOWELA Technical Community College, New Classroom Building (Lake Charles) - $13,650,000

Phase 3 Series 2011, Projected:

- River Parishes Community College, New Campus (Sorrento) - $17,850,000

- Delgado Community College, Improvements to Hurricane Damaged Bldgs. (New Orleans) - $14,641,530

- Sidney N. Collier Campus, Delgado, New Campus (New Orleans) - $12,495,000

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Louisiana's Workforce Solution: The Louisiana Community and Technical College System enrolls more than 60,000 students at its institutions throughout the state. Providing a Day One Guarantee, our colleges strive to direct the high demand, industry-sensitive training our State needs. We focus on workforce and economic development, and on improving the quality of life of Louisiana’s citizens through educational programs offered at our 50 campus locations. Our System colleges include: Baton Rouge Community College, Bossier Parish Community College, Delgado Community College, L.E. Fletcher Technical Community College, Louisiana Delta Community College, Nunez Community College, River Parishes Community College, South Louisiana Community College, SOWELA Technical Community College, and the Louisiana Technical College, with campuses in eight regions throughout the state.