Plan Emerges To Divide $40M College Incentive Fund

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — An agreement has been struck to split a $40 million higher education incentive fund designed to steer money to programs that help fill high-demand jobs.

A council of Louisiana college, economic development and labor officials on Monday approved a plan to divvy up the money among the four college systems.

LSU will get the largest share, $14.4 million, from the Workforce and Innovation for a Stronger Economy Fund, or WISE Fund.

The community and technical college system will get nearly $12 million, while the University of Louisiana System will receive $11.4 million. The Southern University System will get $2 million, the lowest level a university system could receive.

The distribution formula is based on forecasts of which degree areas are in most demand and which skills are considered most valuable.