ST. MARY PARISH — Saronic’s $300 million expansion in Franklin is setting the stage for a major wave of high-tech hiring across St. Mary Parish, and local leaders say the impact will be felt well beyond the company’s shipyard. The autonomous-vessel manufacturer is preparing to bring more than 1,000 skilled jobs to the region, a shift city officials believe will reshape the area’s workforce. “From an economic standpoint it’s going to definitely change the lives of many residents in this area, not only Franklin but all of St. Mary Parish,” Mayor Eugene Foulcard said.

South Louisiana Community College (Solacc) is playing a central role in preparing residents for those positions. The college operates a campus in Franklin just minutes from the expansion site, offering industrial electronics an

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