April 12, 2024 | From City of New Orleans
Office of Workforce Development Announces ARPA-Funded Leonard Merriman III Youth Pilot Scholarship Applications Open April 17
NEW ORLEANS — The Office of Workforce Development has partnered with the Tuskegee Airmen Flight School to offer scholarships to 20 high school seniors from Orleans Parish. The New Orleans Flight School is an aviation training program sponsored by the Tuskegee Airmen that promotes career opportunities for underrepresented youth in Orleans Parish.
Eligibility – This scholarship is available to Orleans Parish high school students who will be at least 17 years old by August 15 and live or attend school in a qualified census tract.
Application Process – The Tuskegee Airmen will open an application portal on April 17 and hold a video information session on April 19. The application deadline is tentatively set for May 1, and the program will begin on May 27. Links to the application portal will be available at nola.gov/arpa and nola.gov/workforce-development beginning April 17.
This comprehensive program provides structured training, mentoring and career exposure. The standardized training program is designed to equip students with all the necessary knowledge and practical skills to meet the FAA Private Pilot License standards.
Throughout the program, students will benefit from the guidance of experienced pilots and other aerospace professionals from diverse military and civilian backgrounds. This personalized mentorship will assist each student in developing their career plans.
Lastly, students will be exposed to various career options in the New Orleans area through field trips to key locations, such as the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, the Lockheed Martin Michoud Assembly Facility and the Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
On March 11, 2021, President Biden signed the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) of 2021 (H.R. 1319) into law. The $1.9 trillion package is designed to directly combat the COVID 19-pandemic and its impacts to states and municipalities. The City of New Orleans received $388 million in ARPA funds. As of February, $245 million has been spent and another $48.5 million has been obligated, representing 76 percent of the City’s total appropriation.
For further information and updates on the City's ARPA investments and initiatives, contact City’s ARPA team at arpa@nola.gov or visit the official website at nola.gov/arpa/.
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