BATON ROUGE — Baton Rouge Community College's Construction Management Program has received a donation of nearly $136,000 from the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors and the Contractors' Educational Trust Fund.

The donation was presented during the LSLBC's board meeting, marking the 11th consecutive year the organization donated to BRCC's Construction Management Program. BRCC is one of only four institutions in the state to receive this year's donation, which is awarded annually to select colleges and universities that meet LSLBC criteria.

"We are grateful to the Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors for its ongoing investment in our Construction Management program," BRCC Chancellor Willie E. Smith Sr. said. "BRCC's Construction Management program plays an important role in preparing students for successful careers in a growing industry in Louisiana and we are dedicated to equipping our graduates with the knowledge and practical skills needed to enter the workforce and meet the demands of our industry partners."

"The LSLBC's continued support is instrumental in helping us fulfill that mission," Smith said.

LSLBC has donated more than $3 million to date to BRCC for scholarships, equipment upgrades and other resources for the program.

BRCC's Construction Management program was established in 2009. It is accredited by the Board of Trustees of the American Council for Construction Education and is the only two-year accredited program in Louisiana and one of only 15 two-year programs in the country to achieve accreditation.

The program consists of 60 credit hours of coursework that includes materials and methods, print reading, estimating, safety, construction law, surveying, planning and scheduling and project management.

It is open to all students and can be completed in as few as four semesters. Students who graduate earn an Associate of Applied Science in Construction Management.

BRCC opened the Capital City Construction Lab in August, a hands-on, open-air learning environment where students gain practical skills in construction management, carpentry, electrical, HVAC and plumbing.

"There are so many resources available to BRCC students and our Construction Management students have tremendous opportunities for learning and advancing toward a high-demand, high-wage job in this industry," BRCC Construction Management Program Manager Gery Frie said.

Earlier this month, BRCC was announced as a founding member of the Lowe's Foundation Building Futures Skilled Trades coalition, which includes more than 75 educators, businesses, workforce organizations, industry vendors and stakeholders.