Company to create more jobs at Bossier City location
A new employer is coming to Bossier City, bringing a number of jobs and an important economic boost to the area.
CSC, a global, multi-billion dollar technology company, will be the new anchor tenant in the National Cyber Research Park in Bossier City. In addition to the economic benefit, CSC will also mean new investment in higher education.
Bossier City beat out 134 locations around the country following a competitive site-selection process.
Bossier City was selected for the willingness of the state, city and local educational community to partner on developing a next-generation IT workforce. Louisiana Tech University established the first cyber engineering program in the nation, which means it is uniquely positioned to educate a workforce for CSC. Tech also has a cooperative educational agreement with Barksdale Air Force Base. Barksdale, which retires about 700 people per year, provides an opportunity for CSC to hire and re-train military veterans.
In addition, CSC, which already employs 8,000 military veterans companywide, will establish a relationship with Fort Polk as it continues a longstanding commitment to hiring veterans, wounded warriors, and military spouses.
“CSC selected Bossier City over 133 other sites across the country. That shows Northwest Louisiana can compete with anyone because of its strong business climate and our incomparable workforce,” Gov. Bobby Jindal said.
CSC’s technology center will result in expanded higher education programs aimed at building a nextgeneration workforce in cloud computing, cybersecurity, big data and application modernization. To support the project, a higher education initiative funded by the state of Louisiana and led by Tech will dramatically expand the number of graduates in computer science and related fields in the region, such as Tech’s Cyber Engineering Program.
“There has been considerable growth of industry in Louisiana recently. We have a great opportunity to link higher education more closely with business and industry to stimulate even greater growth through research, innovation, workforce development, and partnerships,” Tech President Les Guice said. “The workforce needs of CSC align exceptionally well with the academic programs offered at Louisiana Tech University. I am confident that this partnership will have a transformative impact on North Louisiana and will serve as a catalyst for further economic growth.”
At its technology center in Bossier City, CSC is projected to employ 192 in 2014, 384 in 2015, 576 in 2016 and 800 by 2017. The center will have a total payroll of about $39 million, plus benefits by 2017. It will employ a broad range of college graduates and experienced professionals with backgrounds in computer science and related fields.
While CSC will relocate some employees, they will rely heavily on the regional workforce and the strength of local university and college programs for meeting staffing needs in Bossier City.
In 2008, Jindal committed $57 million in state funding, matched by $50 million from local governments, to establish the Cyber Innovation Center and support a technology research park that also would collaborate with strategic missions at Barksdale Air Force Base.
The CIC served as the administrative home to the 8th Air Force for three years until April 2013, when the 8th Air Force moved out of the CIC and rejoined expanded facilities of the Global Strike Command that is headquartered at Barksdale. CSC’s temporary space will fill the CIC area vacated by the 8th Air Force.
“We invested in the Cyber Innovation Center to attract these type of opportunities to our community,” Bossier City Mayor Lo Walker said.
“Without the CIC, we would not have been able to secure these 800 jobs. We are very excited for what this means to our citizens.”
–Kirk Fontenot
