Communities

A dual-purpose facility in New Orleans is set to bridge the digital divide and create high-tech career pipelines for disabled veterans.

Edited by Brad Randall, Broadband Communities

June 26, 2026 — A new dual-purpose facility has opened in New Orleans to expand regional broadband infrastructure and boost workforce development for disabled veterans.

ConnectLA and Bastion recently hosted the grand opening of the Bastion Veteran Wellness Center in the Gentilly neighborhood, establishing a high-speed digital hub and a civilian career pipeline for southeast Louisiana.

Funded in part by Louisiana’s GUMBO 1.0 program, the project targets the digital divide while strengthening the local labor pool. The facility features a dedicated computer lab and multi-use spaces designed to host industry hiring events, vocational rehabilitation, and one-on-one career counseling.

To drive recruitment and training, the center is partnering with regional groups including NextOp, The Boot, the Regional Career Project, the VA, and Vets2Drones. It will also host free community wellness events to monitor key health metrics.

State officials emphasized the economic value of the hub, with Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry stating the project creates a stronger future for veterans.

Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Charlton J. Meginley also noted that the initiative connects highly skilled veterans with the tools needed to transition to civilian careers, while ConnectLA Executive Director Veneeth Iyengar highlighted that the infrastructure investment will strengthen the broader Orleans Parish economy for years to come.

Some AI tools also assisted in the crafting of this report.

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