Vice Chancellor Williams Receives Jefferson Parish Economic Development Award

December 01, 2022

The Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) celebrated a year of new projects, innovative initiatives, and economic development advancements at its annual year-end meeting Thursday, December 1. The 2022 JEDCO Annual Luncheon, sponsored by Gulf Coast Bank & Trust Company, is JEDCO’s largest event of the year, offering opportunities to highlight the organization’s successes in front of hundreds of regional business and community leaders. 

This year, JEDCO celebrated 35 years of major projects and milestones that have helped to shape Jefferson Parish into a major economic driver, a destination for business, and a hub for innovation. Additionally, JEDCO announced the recipients of its 2022 business awards at the event.

Chairman’s Champion Award: JEDCO always affords the organization’s chairperson with an opportunity to select one individual who has positively impacted the Jefferson Parish economy. 2022 JEDCO Chairman Tom Gennaro selected Dr. Arlanda Williams, Delgado Community College Vice Chancellor of Workforce Development and Institutional Advancement, as this year’s recipient of the Chairman’s Champion Award.  Williams oversees Workforce Development as well as the Delgado Maritime and Industrial Training Facility, the Advanced Manufacturing Center at the Delgado River City Site, the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, several major federal grants, and the Small Business Center. In an unprecedented workforce climate, she has led her team to pivot Delgado courses to be more concise and aligned with industry needs. She led the effort to relocate the Jefferson Job Center to a new space at Delgado River City, where traffic is notably up in the new location. Williams serves on the Workforce Development Board and leads the Youth Committee, where she has worked to obtain funding to service more youth. She has a genuine love and passion for teaching, especially at-risk youth, that shines through in every aspect of her work. Additionally, Williams is actively monitoring the emerging wind industry to see how Delgado  can support its growth in Jefferson Parish. She has been a long-term partner in JEDCO’s success and a champion for economic and workforce development in Jefferson Parish. 

“The JEDCO Annual Luncheon has long served as an opportunity to formally showcase annual wins for our organization, but this year feels especially impactful as we celebrate 35 years in operation,” said JEDCO President and CEO Jerry Bologna. “The JEDCO team is proud to work in lockstep with many Jefferson Parish partners, elected officials, and business leaders to drive the projects, initiatives, innovation, and vision that have helped shape the local economy since our inception. Additionally, the businesses and individuals we recognized this year at our annual luncheon play an important role in the advancement of our economy. They are shining examples of the passion, perseverance, and dedication needed to move Jefferson Parish forward and build momentum as we move into the New Year. We are grateful for their contributions to our community."

JEDCO featured an interview with Pete November, the new CEO of Ochsner Health System, during the event and also recognized many key partners, elected officials, and business organizations that support the organization's economic development efforts. The 2022 JEDCO Annual Luncheon took place at the Hilton New Orleans Airport on Airline Drive.