Today, officials from Central Louisiana Technical College (formerly Louisiana Technical College Region 6), the Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS), distinguished guests and other community leaders gathered in Winnfield, to break ground on the long-awaited new facility of the Huey P. Long campus. Approximately 200 individuals from the community attended and witnessed the long-awaited groundbreaking for the campus. Included in the ceremony and providing remarks were former State Senator Mike Smith, Rep. Billy Chandler, Rep. Jim Fannin, former State Representative Jimmy Long Sr., LCTCS President Dr. Joe D. May, Central Louisiana Technical College Director Mervin Birdwell, and Huey P. Long Campus Dean Danny Keyes.

"We are appreciative to Governor Bobby Jindal and the Louisiana Legislature for their support of the Louisiana Community and Technical College System in building the new campuses needed throughout the state to help advance workforce training," said LCTCS President Dr. Joe D. May. "The new Huey P. Long Campus is not just a building. It is a realization of the future of Louisiana, and how significant the training and educational services that technical and community colleges provide to our state and local communities."

The new Huey P. Long Campus will be 51,000 square feet. The $11.5 million campus will sit on 10.47 acres of state owned land on Hwy. 167 N., located near Winnfield High School. Construction is scheduled to begin this fall and is expected to be completed fall 2011.

The new campus is a part of the first phase of the Act 391 facilities project, which was passed during the 2007 Legislative Session and includes 23 projects for 14 community and technical colleges throughout the state and a total bond package of $173.7 million.

"It has been said that good things come to those who wait. The truth of that wisdom is being realized by the community, our campus family, and the LCTCS family as we begin what I consider to be a historical project here in Winnfield," said Huey P. Long Campus Dean Danny Keyes.

Former State Representative Jimmy Long Sr. provided expressions on behalf of the Long family. Long said, "I am a native of Winn Parish. As a student in the 1940s, I attended the Huey P. Long Technical College, and I have had a personal interest in the institution ever since. During my tenure in the Louisiana Legislature, we secured funding to purchase the 10-acres for this location, and I could not be more pleased to participate in the groundbreaking for this new building and to see the vision we had finally being executed. This will be an extraordinary facility for the local community and residents and it is a step in the right direction as we continue working towards meeting the educational and workforce needs of Louisiana's citizens and business and industry."

The current campus was built in 1939, after Louisiana Legislative Act 14 provided for the creation and establishment of the Huey P. Long Memorial Trade School in 1938. The first session began on October 16, 1939 with a student count of 135. This was the third trade school campus constructed in the state of Louisiana. In its early existence, the school continued to grow and expand, serving residents in Winn, Jackson, LaSalle, and Grant parishes. Program offerings were machine shop, welding, auto mechanics, electrical, woodworking, and commercial (business) courses. In 1970 the name of the school was changed to Huey P. Long Memorial Vocational School, to reflect more accurately the type of training offered.

In 1973, Legislative Acts 208 and 209 provided funding for an expansion to accommodate programs in air conditioning/refrigeration, building trades, practical nursing, and developmental studies. Three buildings were constructed to house these additional programs. In 1990 the school name was changed to Huey P. Long Technical Institute and then in 1995 the school acquired the name Louisiana Technical College-Huey P. Long Campus. In 1997, area legislators were instrumental in securing funding to purchase 10.47 acres of land near Winnfield Senior High School with plans to construct a new technical college campus. It is on this land that the new campus will soon be constructed.

Today, the most popular programs on campus are office and administration, nursing and emergency medicine, and production trades. The campus has experienced double digit percentage growth over the past several years and continues to increase its student population. The new campus will provide much needed space for this continued growth and be able to accommodate anyone who wishes to attend.