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WORKING FOR A STATE OF EXCELLENCE
Summer 2003
Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial Celebration
ntergy proudly honored the bicentennial of
the Louisiana Purchase at this year’s annual
Team City Conference held in Baton Rouge June
4-5, 2003. This year’s theme could be found
throughout from the conference invitations to the
thirty-two community exhibits.
The usual large gathering of attendees was
able to hear from experts on such as topics as
the global economy and Louisiana’s role, positive
things occurring in Louisiana, federal tax credit
programs, and teamwork and diversity.
They also didn’t miss out on the networking
and entertainment offered with the community
exhibit booths, at the evening reception, and
during the golf tournament.
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The Events
The conference started early Wednesday
with 140 golfers teeing off at Pelican Point. The
sun soaked players competed for first, second
and third place, as well as ‘hole in one’ and
‘closest to the hole’ awards. Photos of the 2003
winners can be found on page 10.
That evening, a reception was held by Jim
Hendricks, Entergy Louisiana, Director of
Economic Development, welcoming the 81 active
Team Cities and also presenting the first, second,
and third place ‘Best Booth Awards’ to the
winners. Iberville Parish, Arnaudville, and St.
James Parish were awarded first, second and
third place, respectively. Arnaudville recognized
the artist that painted the mural for helping to
promote the community. Caldwell Parish was
recognized for the first time with the new award
for the booth that best reflected the Louisiana
Bicentennial, while Zachary was chosen by its
peers as the best booth.
The winning booths, chosen by four
impartial judges, did an outstanding job of
celebrating Louisiana’s bicentennial and
highlighting the successes in their communities.
The community of Baker even had Thomas
Jefferson and Napoleon Bonaparte manning its
booth!
The conference opened with a ’roll call,’
giving each of the 81 Team Cities, including the
four newest -- Dubach, Gibsland, Livonia and
Westwego --- an opportunity to share something
about their community with the audience. Mayor
Hammons of Winnsboro announced that the
community was the “Stars & Stripes Capital of
Louisiana” and Debbie Peltier of Donaldsonville
pronounced - “The Lord said let there be light,
and then there was Entergy.” Attendees also were
informed that Denham Springs is celebrating its
100th year. A map was shown, highlighting the
Team Cities throughout the state.
“Louisiana’s Bicentennial has the state
buzzing with excitement and we wanted to
incorporate that wave of positive momentum into
our conference,” said Jim Hendricks. “We also
need to build on it so we can carry that
momentum to continue on beyond 2003.”
Before presenting the President’s Award,
Renae Conley, Entergy Louisiana President and
CEO, expressed that we need to continue to get
the word out that Louisiana offers many great
things, and it is the hard working people such as
the attendees that attracts people to Louisiana.
She also stressed how rooted Entergy is in
Louisiana with 5,300 employees, so it’s important
for the company to assist in developing the
economy of the state. The company invests in the
state beyond economic development, including
improving and enriching schools, providing
grants for arts & cultural programs, and recently
building houses for low-income families in north
Louisiana, and much more.
ADDITIONAL CONFERENCE COVERAGE ON PAGE 10
“Louisiana’s Bicentennial
has the state buzzing
with excitement and we
wanted to incorporate that
wave of positive momentum
into our conference…
We also need to build on it
so we can carry that
momentum to continue on
beyond 2003.”
I N S I D E
2003 Gold Team City . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
MetroVision’s Business Retention Program
Wins Prestigious Award . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
PAL Holds 2003 Conference on the River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
LED Presents Lantern Awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Entergy’s Commitment Produces Housing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Macon Ridge Helps to Build Rural Northeast Louisiana . . . . . . 7
Louisiana Bicentennial Celebration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8-11
LED Honors Louisiana SBA Award Winners. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Jefferson Parish Bucks National Climate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
BUSINESS GROWTH & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT NEWS
WAT C H I N G L O U I S I A N A G R O W
2003 Gold Team City
1.
2.
3.
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6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
City of Gonzales
City of Carencro
City of Zachary
City of St. Gabriel
Town of Iberville
Town of Scott
City of Lake Charles
Parish of St. Bernard
Town of Grand Isle
Town of Bernice
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
City of Winnsboro
City of Donaldsonville
City of St. Francisville
City of Springfield
Parish of St. James
City of Baker
City of Hammond
City of Sulphur
City of White Castle
Parish of West Baton Rouge
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
The City of Grand Coteau
City of Bastrop
City of Monroe
Parish of Ouachita
City of Rayville
City of West Monroe
City of Springhill
Parish of Caldwell
City of Arnaudville
Parish of Livingston
31. Town of Port Barre
32. The Parish of St. John
the Baptist
33. The City of Kentwood
34. The City of Bogalusa
35. The City of Morganza
36. The City of New Roads
37. City of Dubach
38. City of Ponchatoula
Plaquemines Parish Receives Grant
for Deep Water Port Project
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ntergy’s Bill Peperone presents a grant for a deep water port project proposed for
Plaquemines Parish. The project would be of great economic impact to the southern
portion of Plaquemines. Ships that would utilize the port would be large ocean ability crew
ships and others ocean vessels. The port would be a one stop facility where all supplies can
be obtained, including water, fuel and food. ●
(Left to right) Bob Gravolet, Assessor Plaquemines Parish;
Benny Rouselle, Parish President; Jerry Hodnett, Council Chair;
Bill Peperone; Phillip Truxillo, CSM; Charlie McCarty, ED
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Teamwork Louisiana is published to promote Louisiana and provide an update on the local, national
and international economic development efforts of Teamwork Louisiana and the people of Louisiana.
If you have comments or suggestions regarding the Teamwork Louisiana newsletter, send them to
Bill Peperone, P.O. Box 6100, L-JEF-366, New Orleans, LA 70161-1000 or email [email protected]
Website: www.entergy.com/laed
If you have business location or community development questions, please contact one of these
team members:
ENTERGY LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF
Director
Comm. Dev. & Trade
Shows
Industrial Recruitment
Jim Hendricks
225-763-5057
Bill Peperone
504-840-2562
Sam Richardson
225-763-5173
Phil Seghers
225-763-5132
ENTERGY LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF (cont.)
Community Development
Clyde Mitchell
337-431-6213
Don Terry
318-329-5476
2 ● TEAMWORK LOUISIANA
Karen Yates
225-763-5197
Market Research
BusinessLINC
and New Market
Initiatives
Shawn Darrah
225-763-5113
Clif Avant
225-763-5062
ENTERGY NEW ORLEANS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT STAFF
Support Staff
Toll-Free (800) 542-2668
Director, Governmental
Affairs & Economic
Development
Industrial Recruitment
Community
Development
Merite Cain
225-763-5060
Theresa Lange
504-840-2570
Alvin Garibaldi
504-670-3640
Frank Sames
504-670-3633
Gesele Sabathia
504-243-5585
PRESIDENT’S COLUMN
Affordable Housing Boosts Louisiana Communities
A
t the end of July, it was my privilege to be in Winnsboro for an Open
House sponsored by the Single Family Housing Partnership. We
celebrated three new homes built through a unique public-private
collaboration to provide affordable housing for Louisiana.
The collaboration – between Entergy and the Louisiana Housing and
Community Development Corporation – reflects Entergy’s strong
commitment to meeting the needs of our low-income customers and to
improving economic opportunities across our region.
LHCDC is a not-for-profit organization established by the Foster
administration to help provide affordable housing in Louisiana through
an investment of approximately $4 million. Through an agreement
established in 2001, Entergy and LHCDC created a $500,000 revolving
loan fund to provide affordable housing for low-income residents in
Entergy’s service area. Entergy and LHCDC each provided $250,000 to
create the fund, to be used to develop five to ten houses per year for
qualified customers in our region.
Studies showed that affordable housing was a primary economic
need in many Louisiana communities. Entergy targeted geographic
locations across the state where LHCDC would develop the houses.
Entergy and LHCDC received assistance from the state’s faith-based
communities, especially the Louisiana State Baptist Convention, to help
identify potential low-income homebuyers. LHCDC devised an efficient
development process that takes roughly five months to choose a site and
construct a home.
By the end of August 2003, a total of 14 affordable homes will have
been completed. With contributions from other groups and businesses in
Louisiana, the initial $500,000 provided by Entergy and the LHCDC will
leverage $3.5 million in total funding by
the end of the year, allowing the program
to grow well beyond our initial goals.
The affordable housing initiative also
generates economic activity in the
community, in payrolls for local workers
hired for framing, plumbing, electrical
and other construction work on the
homes, and in sales of construction
materials. The new homes enhance the
community and add to local property tax
Renae Conley
rolls. The local community development
commission in Winnsboro, Macon Ridge CDC, already has plans in place
to build 30 more homes and two large apartment complexes, so the
impact will go far beyond the initial project.
The Entergy-LHCDC partnership represents a unique collaboration
with each other and with the faith-based community. All of us at Entergy
are proud to make this investment in the region we serve. The real
reward comes in meeting the proud new homeowners like Arie
Brunshick and her family in Winnsboro. Arie says she loves her new
home and appreciates the support she received.
We at Entergy are also grateful for the support of the state and local
leaders who have helped to make this a reality. We appreciate the
investment that homebuyers like Arie are making in their own
community, and we’re glad to be able to help make it possible. It’s just
one of many ways we’re working to build the economies of the
communities we serve. ●
MetroVision’s Business Retention LIDEA Holds
Program Wins Prestigious Award Gubernatorial Forum
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etroVision’s business retention and expansion program recently won an
impressive award from Business Retention and Expansion International
Inc. (BREI), a non-profit professional association that
focuses on retention and expansion of existing
businesses as an economic development strategy
for communities.
The 10-parish regional organization was cited
in the urban programs category for its company call program,
its collaboration on such community connection programs as the recent
Business Appreciation Week, and the sophistication of the organization’s
approach using the Synchronist software package to track projects.
BREI also acknowledged MetroVision’s successes, including the
retention and expansion of the region’s largest private employer, Northrop
Grumman Avondale, and assistance provided to Randa Corp. that kept the
company in the region, as key examples of effective retention.
Since winning the award, MetroVision has changed their name to
Greater New Orleans, Inc.
For information about MetroVision’s award winning business
retention program, contact Steve Molnar, Staff Director of Business
Retention and Expansion at (504) 527-6996 [email protected].
For information about BREI, visit the web site at www.brei.org. ●
BREI
he Louisiana Industrial Development Executives Association (LIDEA)
held its annual legislative follow-up meeting recently in Baton Rouge.
The agenda was packed with presentations on the outcome of the
general legislative session, as well as a gubernatorial forum focused on
economic development issues of importance to the association’s
membership.
LIDEA rolled out its “Issues Paper” featuring key issues and
strategies that it believes need to be addressed in order for Louisiana’s
economy to move forward.
1) Governor to lead economic development efforts as Louisiana’s
chief salesperson
2) Promote change in the state’s tax and tax incentive system to
attract expansion and new investment
3) Use all available resources in the state to improve the state’s
business climate including increased efficiency and
communication within government
4) Support Louisiana Economic Development’s (LED) role as an
information clearinghouse
5) Marketing our state, inside and out, by the LED
6) Build on the basics such as education, workforce training,
transportation and quality of life
CONTINUED ON PAGE 13
TEAMWORK LOUISIANA ● 3
DIRECTOR’S COLUMN
Major Initiatives
O
ur annual Team City Conference was the most successful so far, with
more than 500 economic development professionals, volunteers, and
elected officials participating. We have received a lot of positive feedback on
this year’s conference and will continue to strive to make it better. Many
people raved about our keynote speaker Bob Arnold. Aside from being
humorous he really does an excellent job of proving that we can accomplish
anything we set our mind to, no matter what the obstacles may be.
Our theme “Team City Louisiane: A Bicentennial Celebration”
suggested by Caldwell Team Parish, was designed as a way to allow us to
build on the positive momentum surrounding the state’s bicentennial
anniversary. We have a lot of history to be proud of here and the
bicentennial celebration allowed us an opportunity to not only celebrate
the state’s history but also the history of all of our communities.
We also learned some important lessons from our four breakout
speakers. State Senator Willie Mount informed us of even more great
things happening around our state such as having one of the best funded
incumbent worker training programs in the country. John Doggett
provided some excellent facts on why all of
America is struggling to keep manufacturing jobs
at home. Bob Rapoza gave us some very good
information on the details of how the New Market
tax credits work and Jew Don Boney did an
outstanding job of educating us on how
understanding diversity serves as one of the
building blocks of teamwork.
I would also like to congratulate all of our
award winners at this year’s conference. As I
mentioned earlier Caldwell Team Parish
won the theme award. Our Best Booth
Awards went to: St. James Team Parish 3rd place; Arnaudville Team City – 2nd
place; and Iberville Team Parish – 1st
place. The attendees voted to award the
Exhibitor’s Choice to Zachary Team City.
In addition to wrapping up Team City
Jim Hendricks
we are also taking this time to continue
promoting one of our other major initiatives, the re-design of our web
site and database of available industrial buildings and sites. Our building
and site database is a free marketing tool that we encourage all of our
allies to utilize. The recent upgrade has expanded it to cover all 64
Louisiana parishes and allows users to search the properties by a
creating a custom search, searching by parish, or searching by region.
The new database also enables our allies to create a profile in order to
submit and edit their own property listings and create custom flyers to
use for marketing campaigns.
This database re-design was actually the first phase of our
investment to upgrading our technology. In the near future we will be
launching a new Geographic Information System (GIS) to attach to the
database. This will allow the users to view the property locations in an
online mapping system.
So stay tuned for more on the GIS system and in the meantime
check our web site at http:www.entergy.com/laed and let us know what
you think. ●
Legislative Session Brings Economic Development Benefits
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n outcome of the 2003 General Legislative Session was the revision and
addition of several economic development incentives, tools state and
local economic developers use to attract business expansion and location
to Louisiana.
credits with respect to a state-certified production allocated to a Louisiana
taxpayer and not previously claimed by such taxpayer against its income
tax may be transferred or sold by such taxpayer to another Louisiana
taxpayer.” The legislation outlines a few stipulations to qualify for the
program.
Revised Quality Jobs Program Act (HB 892 and SB 1126) (R.S.
51:2451-2462) The tax rebate program was revised to allow
employees of an employer moving from outside of Louisiana to
a “new direct job” in this state to be eligible for the Quality
Jobs Program. For full-time employees whose wages are
equal to or greater than $50,000 per year, the employer
shall pay not less than 70 percent of the total premium for
health insurance. The Department of Economic
Development may retroactively apply the benefits of the Act
to qualified employers submitting advance notice to the
department after May 1, 2002.
Revised Film and Video Production Tax Credit (HB 892) (R.S.
47-1121-1128) The tax credit program created in the 2002 Legislative
Session now allows tax credits to be transferred from one qualified
Louisiana production company to another. The revised law states “any tax
4 ● TEAMWORK LOUISIANA
NEW Louisiana Major Projects Development Authority Act
(SB 888) (R.S. 51:3029) New legislation was enacted to
create a statewide authority that can make quick decisions
about major impact projects considering Louisiana as a
location. The authority, with a membership consisting of
Louisiana’s highest officials, is “empowered to take all
steps appropriate or necessary to effect the siting,
development, and operation of a project within the state,
including the negotiation of a price for the site.” Where
necessary, local and legislative approval must be obtained. Projects
must invest at least $300 million and create 1,000 or more jobs at 125
percent of the most recent average annual wage to be considered. Existing
companies that have an aggregated capital investment of $300 million in
Louisiana after expansion of at least $150 million and 1,000 new jobs at
the 125 per cent level are also eligible. ●
WAT C H I N G L O U I S I A N A G R O W
Ports Association of Louisiana
Holds 2003 Conference on the River
T
he Ports Association of Louisiana (PAL) held
its annual conference April 9-11, 2003 in New
Orleans aboard the Cajun Queen riverboat with
the theme “Rolling on the River.” Representatives
from all 34 of Louisiana’s ports were present to
hear about local and federal initiatives affecting their ports. The unique
setting provided attendees an opportunity to see the vast infrastructure and
industry located at the three ports in the New Orleans Region as the boat
rolled down the Mississippi River.
Speakers included representatives from the American Association of
Port Authorities reporting on federal security legislation and funding; the
U.S. Coast Guard presenting its security plan for the Sector New Orleans
Region; the National Oceanographic and Aeronautic Administration’s port
navigational mapping and satellite imagery programs; and the Mississippi
River Corridor Initiative’s plan to grow the port business on the Lower
Mississippi River. The latter initiative is working to identify potential new
customers to utilize Louisiana’s six deepwater ports.
Incoming PAL president, Wyly Gilfoil of the Lake Providence Port
Commission, has been aggressively promoting Louisiana’s ports. As part of
the PAL’s “Louisiana Ports Deliver” initiative introduced last year, the
association held a “Ports Day at the Legislature” and Governor Foster
declared April 2nd as Ports Day in Louisiana
where PAL members discussed the impact that
ports have on Louisiana’s economy.
PAL was also heavily involved in lobbying for
several bills during the legislative session that
would affect its member ports. H.B. 1496 that allows ports to develop
security plans that are not subject to “Open Meeting Laws”; and H.B. 2, the
Capitol Outlay Bill that contains a line item appropriation of $24.5 million
for the Port Construction and Development Priority Program.
Gilfoil says the most important thing he can do as president of PAL is
keep telling the Louisiana ports story, promoting the fact that the state’s
ports have a total economic impact of $32.9 billion on the economy,
including $5.66 billion in jobs and generation of 270,000 permanent jobs.
In addition, Louisiana ports generate $467 million in recurring tax revenue.
It is critical for Louisiana’s elected officials and citizens to understand the
importance of the industry to the state’s economy.
Founded in 1992,the Ports Association of Louisiana was formed as a
non-profit trade association to aid in the advancement of Louisiana ports.
PAL has developed and fostered good relations among all the ports over the
last decade and will continue to work on joint projects. Visit PAL’s web site
at www.portsoflouisiana.org. ●
LED Presents Lantern Awards
ouisiana Economic Development held its Lantern Awards ceremony
on June 17 at the Governor’s Mansion. The annual awards program
honored eleven businesses and one university for the contributions each
made to Louisiana’s economy in 2002. This year one winner was chosen
from each of LED’s eleven clusters and the criteria were based on the
three goals of the Vision 2020 Plan for economic development.
L
and information technology development.
Food Technology Category: Associated Grocers, Baton Rouge; a group of
independent retail grocers that have worked together for more than 50
years in order to compete and succeed in business.
The winners included:
Information Technology Category: EATEL, Gonzales; provides its
customers with communication services such as long distance, Internet,
DSL, web development, phone systems and directories.
Advanced Materials Category: Continental Structural Plastics, Springhill;
manufactures plastics for use in automobiles and other machinery.
Logistics/Transportation Category: Dupré Transport, Lafayette; provides
transportation of products such as gasoline, diesel and aviation fuels.
Agriculture/Forestry Category: Roy O. Martin Lumber Company,
Alexandria; provides timberland, hunting lease, and real estate
management and also performs logging services.
Oil & Gas/Energy Category: SEMPCheck Services, Lafayette; provides
services that ensure that oil and gas producing operations stay in
regulatory compliance
Biotechnology/Biomedical Category: ReliaGene Technologies, Jefferson;
does DNA testing for law enforcement authorities as well as paternity testing.
Petrochemical Category: Dow Chemical Company, Plaquemine;
manufactures plastics and more than 100 basic and specialty chemicals
that are used in creating hundreds of everyday products.
Durable Goods Manufacturing Category: EADS Aeroframe Services, Lake
Charles; provides aircraft maintenance and repair services.
Entertainment Industry Category: Offbeat Publications, New Orleans;
promotes Louisiana music and musicians to showcase the riches of
Louisiana’s musical heritage.
Environmental Technology Category: Innovative Emergency Management,
Baton Rouge; helps institutions prepare for emergencies by providing
vulnerability assessments, emergency simulation and response exercises,
Organization Award (non-profit/institutional): The Center for Business &
Information Technologies, ULL, Lafayette; an organization that performs
training, research and development in the area of information
technology.
For more information, contact Arthur Cooper, LED Director of
Business Retention, at 225-342-4321 or log on to
www.led.state.la.us. ●
TEAMWORK LOUISIANA ● 5
WAT C H I N G L O U I S I A N A G R O W
Entergy’s Commitment Produces Housing
T
he Entergy-Louisiana Housing and
Community Development Corporation
(LHCDC) partnership formed a year ago
has produced some happy homeowners
in northeast Louisiana.
As another way of helping its lowincome customers, Entergy provided
$250,000 towards the LHCDC affordable
housing program, a program that builds
single-family homes for qualified
applicants.
Fourteen homes were built in
northeast Louisiana in the last year to assist families that could not have
otherwise owned a home. Studies showed that northeast Louisiana lacked
in housing for low- income families, specifically Monroe and Ferriday,
which were chosen because of the large number of applicants in the
communities. “We found housing was a primary need in these
communities,” Entergy’s Clifton Avant said.
The LHCDC has an organized, yet fast development process that
takes roughly five months to chose a site and construct a home. This
particular project started with a partnership between the LHCDC and two
local non-profits, the Macon Ridge CDC and Booker T Washington
Project CDC that oversaw every aspect of development from screening
applicants to choosing developers to building the homes. As an investor,
Entergy’s Clifton Avant also played a large role in the development
process.
The first step was for the local chapters to identify sites based on
availability and cost of the land. Entergy and LHCDC reviewed each site to
insure they fell within cost and location parameters, and then approved
for purchase. The next step was to evaluate project partners including
engineers, contractors, homebuilders and various sub-contractors.
Once all the site and building costs were evaluated construction began
on the homes, all in varying time periods.
“This work is very rewarding,” said Avant, “because we are
providing one of the basic living needs for these families at a price they
can afford based on their income levels.” Originally Entergy committed to
building five homes per year, yet the numbers increased with the
promotion of the program by Avant to additional investors. Entergy’s
$250,000 commitment turned into $3.5 million.
The project also had a considerable economic impact on the
community in the form of 33 permanent contracting jobs with the Macon
Ridge CDC, as well as payroll and sales taxes, and spending on
construction materials. Macon Ridge CDC already has plans in place to
build 30 more homes and two large apartment complexes, so the impact
will go far beyond the initial project.
“Our goal on this
project was to create some
economic activity and provide
homes,” said Tim Smith,
President and CEO of the
LHCDC, “and we did just that
by hiring locals for framing,
plumbing, electrical and other
work that helped to build these
homes.” The LHCDC facilitated
the overall program, but
played less of a role than with
other such projects because of the strong support they received locally
from the Macon Ridge CDC and Booker T Washington Project CDC.
The real reward comes when you see the smile of proud new
homeowners such as Michael Bailey and Arie Brunshick and her family.
Mr. Bailey learned about the housing program from a friend on the
chamber of commerce board. He found he liked the site chosen for the
home, and also the assistance he received from the Macon Ridge CDC on
financing the home. Arie says she loves her new home and appreciates
the support she received.
Entergy plans on continuing its role in the LHCDC housing program,
and hopes that others will come forward to be a part of it. “We’re excited
about future partners coming to the table with us,” Avant said.
For more information about the Entergy-LHCDC Partnership, contact
Clifton Avant, (800) 542-2688. ●
The real reward comes when you see
the smile of proud new homeowners
such as Michael Bailey and Arie
Brunshick and her family.
6 ● TEAMWORK LOUISIANA
WAT C H I N G L O U I S I A N A G R O W
Macon Ridge Helps to Build Rural Northeast Louisiana
T
he Macon Ridge Economic Development
Region, Inc., the regional economic
development entity for northeast Louisiana, is
spearheading some creative projects to
enhance the economy of the 13-parish area it
represents. President and CEO, Tana Trichel,
believes the most effective way the organization
can help grow the economy is to build upon
the strengths of the region to create the best
atmosphere for success.
The Macon Ridge Region is largely rural with some of the highest
unemployment and lowest per capita income rates in Louisiana. The
economic base consists mainly of small to medium sized homegrown
businesses that have been somewhat successful despite the lack of
resources normally available to similar businesses in non-rural areas.
The organization’s main goal is to help these businesses become stronger
economic engines for the region.
One of the organization’s longstanding programs is the micro loan
program that provides low-interest loans to small and start-up
businesses. However, the program funds from USDA Rural Development
are limited to serving the five-parish Enterprise Community, so Trichel is
pursuing a grant from the U.S. Treasury Department that would certify
Macon Ridge as a development financial institution. The micro loan fund
would be increased and also allow the organization to lend throughout
its 13-parish region.
Another project Macon Ridge has undertaken is managing the
Central and North Louisiana Rural Renewal Communities (RC), the
federal program implemented last year by the U.S. Housing and Urban
Development that provides tax credits and other incentives to businesses
and entities that invest in defined areas. Macon Ridge has been busy
promoting the benefits of the program at workshops and events
throughout the region, and assisting with applications.
Macon Ridge has also created a strong partnership with the three
universities in the region to bring technology into this mostly rural area.
The University of Louisiana, Monroe and Louisiana Tech University are
conducting e-commerce seminars to educate businesses on the use of
the Internet and e-mail as business tools to increase communication and
operating efficiencies in their work environment. In addition, the
organization received a matching grant for distance learning through the
USDA Rural Development Rural Utilities Program and Louisiana
Economic Development. A partnership with Grambling State University
has been formed to assist in building the infrastructure and courses
needed to reach individuals in outlying rural areas that want to learn via
the Internet.
These are some of the ways the Macon Ridge Economic
Development Region Inc. is working to overcome the weaknesses
existing in the region. The organization is also working on
strengthening its relationship with municipal and parish governments,
and economic development professionals to establish a more focused
approach to economic development. “We want to work together with the
locals to build a consensus about where the region is headed,” said
Trichel.
Macon Ridge Economic Development Region, Inc. was formed in
1994 by a group of people interested in developing a cohesive effort to
building the economy in the region.
For further information, contact Tana Trichel at (318) 757-3033 or
visit the web site at www.maconridge.org. ●
Manufacturer Benefits from MEPoL’s Assistance
J
& M Industries, a manufacturer of customized industrial tarps and
cloths, reduced its production time and costs after consulting with the
Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Louisiana (MEPoL). The
Ponchatoula-based company went through MEPoL’s lean manufacturing
assessment that analyzed the production flow and then
modified it based
on recommendations made.
Al Bourgeois, plant manager of J & M Industries had
an inkling that the company’s work order process had a
few kinks in it and wanted to make improvements needed
to reduce wasted time and costs. He received a flyer in the
mail about MEPoL’s “Lean 101” course, one of several the
not-for-profit organization conducts each year to assist
Louisiana manufacturers. The course offered both lecture
and hands-on work through a manufacturing simulation.
“I decided to take the course because I thought I might learn something
about our production process,” said Bourgeois. Bourgeois learned that his
facility had some problems with work-in-process building up on the
manufacturing floor and keeping orders flowing. He contacted Mike Scott,
MEPoL’s project manager for Tangipahoa Parish who brought in the
organization’s lean manufacturing expert, Brad Stump, to assess the situation
at J & M Industries.
The goal of lean manufacturing is to eliminate wasted
activity in the manufacturing process. In every manufacturing
operation there are value-added processes, which increase
the value of the product being manufactured. In lean
production implementation, major cost reductions come
through the elimination of process steps that do not add
value from the customer perspective.
Stump analyzed the flow of materials and information
through J & M’s plant, as well as the layout and how the
product flowed from station to station. Because most of the
company’s orders for industrial tarps are customized and frequently subject
to change, Stump found that orders were being interrupted to begin another
and placed on the manufacturing floor. This process added unnecessary time
CONTINUED ON PAGE 14
TEAMWORK LOUISIANA ● 7
FIRST PLACE
Team City Golf Tournament
FIRST PLACE
Iberville Parish
Calvin Deshotel
Jeff Arnold
McClure Sampson
Andy Deher (not shown)
SECOND PLACE
Presented by Renae Conley
Arnaudville Parish
THIRD PLACE
SECOND PLACE
Jerry Bailey
Larry Miller
Craig Schimpf
Presented by Renae Conley
St. James Parish
EXHIBITOR’S CHOICE
Zachary
THEME WINNER
LONGEST DRIVE
Cleve Weisgerber
Presented by Renae Conley
Town of Columbia
8 ● TEAMWORK LOUISIANA
CLOSEST TO THE HOLE
Max Jones
Presented by Renae Conley
FIRST PLACE
Team City Golf Tournament
FIRST PLACE
Roll Call!
Iberville Parish
Calvin Deshotel
Jeff Arnold
McClure Sampson
Andy Deher (not shown)
SECOND PLACE
Amite
Lake Providence
Arcadia
LaSalle Parish
Arnaudville
Livingston Parish
Baker
Livonia
Bastrop
Marksville
Baton Rouge
Monroe
Bernice
Morganza
Bogalusa
New Orleans
Arnaudville
Broussard
New
Roads Parish
Caldwell Parish
Ouachita Parish
THIRD P
LACE
Carencro
Ponchatoula
Church Point
Port Allen
Clinton
Port Barre
Cullen
Rayville
Denham Springs
Scott
Donaldsonville
Springfield
Dubach
Springhill
Duson
St. Bernard Parish
East Feliciana Parish
St. Charles Parish
St. James Parish
Ferriday
St. Francisville
Gibsland
St. Gabriel
E X H I B I T O RSt.’ SJames
C HParish
OICE
Grambling
Grand Coteau
St. John the Baptist
Grand Isle
Parish
Gretna
Sulphur
Gonzales
Sunset
Grosse Tete
Tallulah
Gueydan
Tensas Parish
Hackberry
Terrebonne Parish
Hammond
Vermilion Parish
Haynesville
Walker Zachary
Homer
West Carroll Parish
I N Monroe
NER
Iberville ParishT H E M E W
West
Iowa
West Baton Rouge
Jackson
Parish
Jennings
Westlake
Jonesboro
Westwego
Kaplan
White Castle
Kentwood
Winnsboro
Lafourche Parish
Youngsville
Lake Arthur
Zachary
Town of Columbia
Lake Charles
8 ● TEAMWORK LOUISIANA
Presented by Renae Conley
SECOND PLACE
Jerry Bailey
Larry Miller
Craig Schimpf
Presented by Renae Conley
LONGEST DRIVE
Cleve Weisgerber
Presented by Renae Conley
CLOSEST TO THE HOLE
Max Jones
Presented by Renae Conley
ANNUAL TEAM CITY CONFERENCE
Bob Arnold
Bob Arnold, executive director
and CEO of the Kentucky Association
of Counties, was the keynote speaker
in the morning. Bob gave an
inspirational and motivational
speech, recalling his challenges and
triumphs as a blind person.
Bob began to lose his ability to
see as a child, completely losing his
sight at the age of 19. He told the
audience that even without his sight, Bob Arnold
he has been blessed with vision, the
vision to lead. He has done this through his work and personal life, and
the many speeches that he has given along the way.
Throughout his speech about his experiences, Bob used humor as a
means of conveying his message. He told attendees how he fought
discrimination in his life because others didn’t quite know how to treat a
blind person. He always looked at people as people and the
characteristics that make them what they are. From a young age Bob
taught his teachers how to teach him and school kids how to treat him.
Bob talked about playing baseball in school, and his ability to do so
because they played as a team, but not before he taught them how to play
with him. His teammates became his advocates, but not before he first
believed he could play.
Later in life, after completing two degrees at the University of
Kentucky, Bob ran for a county seat in his hometown so that he could give
something back and contribute to his community. He used his blindness
to get involved and make statements about people with disabilities. Bob
told the audience that as individuals we have to learn from other’s
mistakes, and sometimes we don’t get a second chance.
Bob left the audience with some inspirational words -- “Today is a
dream, tomorrow is a vision, yesterday is history.” Starting today we can
change tomorrow.
One reaction from the audience was Mayor Fred Ashby of Kinder,
who said Bob’s speech brought tears to his eyes. He thought it was an eye
opener for people -- if they listened good they would change their way of
living. He believed the overall message was: If you don’t try and give up,
you’ll never get anywhere.
10 ● TEAMWORK LOUISIANA
President’s Award
Conley then made the annual presentation of the President’s Award
to Joe and Lucille Foreman from Iowa, a small community between
Lafayette and Lake Charles on Interstate-10.
Joe was a coach, schoolteacher and principal in Iowa for his
career. Since retiring from the school board, he has filled his time with
activities related to the economic development of the community. He has
been heavily involved in marketing the Vanity Fair Outlet Mall including
the placement of the billboard on Interstate 10.
Lucille is a former schoolteacher and social worker in Calcasieu
Parish. She was a “committee of one” who took it upon herself to plant
daylilies and crepe myrtle trees on Thomson Street and Miller Avenue.
The Foreman’s were nearly speechless, but sincerely expressed that
they do for their community in order to repay it for the wonderful things
that have happened to them and their children. They reiterated what a
wonderful place Iowa is to live.
They worked unselfishly and untiringly to help the town achieve its
goal of making “Iowa a nice place to visit and a great place to live.”
ANNUAL TEAM CITY CONFERENCE
Breakout Sessions
There were four breakout sessions held in the morning providing a
wealth of information that the attendees could bring back with them to
use in their communities:
(1) New Markets Initiative Tax Credits;
(2) Global Economy;
(3) Louisiana Positives; and
(4) Teamwork and Diversity.
Louisiana
Positives
Willie Mount
Louisiana Senator Willie Mount
spoke about all the positive things
happening in Louisiana of which
many of us are unaware, though
acknowledging that we have many
challenges as well.
• Louisiana’s bond rating was recently raised to A+ by 2 of 3 bond
ratings.
• Tobacco Settlement Fund in Louisiana is a restricted fund, only to
be used for specific projects that are approved; however, in many
states it is being used as a general fund for every day services.
• School Accountability Program in the state is #5 in the country for
standards of accountability.
Global Economy
John Doggett of the
University of Texas at Austin
provided insight into the global
economy affecting U.S.
businesses and communities.
It’s no longer just the U.S., but
the world in which communities
are competing.
Several points he made
included:
John Doggett
• Promote Vision 2020 and
differentiate Louisiana
based on its strengths
(natural resources; land, water and ports)
• Learn from the best including Austin, Silicon Valley and Singapore.
The heart of their success was in networking between citizens,
government and business, and universities to work together on
vision and goals.
• Universities need to focus on technology commercialization, not
just research, and partner with business on new technologies.
Louisiana’s universities need to have the attitude they are the best
university in the world, not just the South.
• Invest in your future workforce at a young age, which is the
greatest investment Louisiana can make for the development of the
future economy.
Teamwork/Diversity
The key to teamwork is to
train and develop leadership skills.
Effective leaders are clear about
their:
• Self interests
• Central core values
• Accountability
• Mutually beneficial projects
For more Louisiana positives, visit the LED web site at www.led.state.la.us.
New Markets Initiative
A presentation was made on how communities can spur economic
growth from the tax credits
offered by the federal New
Markets Tax Initiative. The
program provides a 5 to 6
percent credit to equity investors
in Community Development
Entities (CDEs) for each of the
years the investment is held
through 2007. Rapoza Associates
works with the federal
government’s New Markets Tax
Coalition (NMTC) to insure that it
assists in creating investment in
Bob Rapoza
the intended rural and urban lowincome communities across the country.
Jewdon Boney
Conclusion
The conference concluded with a closing video of all the events
intertwined with old film clips of life in Louisiana, as a tribute to the
bicentennial celebration of the purchase of Louisiana in 1803. ●
For more information, visit the NMTC web site at
www.newmarketstaxcreditcoalition.org.
TEAMWORK LOUISIANA ● 11
WAT C H I N G L O U I S I A N A G R O W
LED Honors Louisiana Jefferson Davis Parish Economic
SBA Award Winners Strategy: Building Upon Its Strengths
T
T
he Louisiana Department of Economic Development
honored seven Louisiana Small Business Award winners
and two Small Business Advocates from across the state on
May 29 at a reception at the Governor’s Mansion for their
accomplishments in the state.
The winners included:
· Deidria B. Joseph, president and CEO of Topp Knotch
Personnel, Inc.; New Orleans, overall Louisiana Small
Business Person of the Year Award winner
· John Deveney, Deveney Communication; New Orleans,
Planning District One Small Business Award Winner
(nominated by the New Orleans Small Business Council)
· There was no nominee from Planning District Two
· Dr. A. J. de la Houssaye, M.D., Medical Director of Seeca;
Houma, Planning District Three Small Business Award
Winner (nominated by the Houma-Terrebonne Chamber of
Commerce)
· Michael L. Spears and William E. Dalton, Firefly Digital,
Inc.; Lafayette, Planning District Four Small Business Award
Winner (nominated by Lafayette Economic Development
Authority) also, runner up for Louisiana Small Business
Person Award
· There was no nominee from Planning District Five
· Patrick C. Moore, ASLA Landscape, Architects, Site Planners;
Alexandria, Planning District Six Small Business Award Winner
(nominated by Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce)
· Matthew J. Brown, Sportspectrum, Inc.; Shreveport,
Planning District Seven Small Business Award Winner
(nominated by the Greater Shreveport Chamber of
Commerce)
· Grady W. Brown, Panola Pepper Corporation; Lake
Providence, Planning District Eight Small Business Award
Winner (nominated by Macon Ridge Economic
Development Region)
The eight district recipients were evaluated on the
basis of growth in sales and staff, creative products or
services, business stability, response to adversity and
contributions to the surrounding community.
In addition to the district winners, two Business
Advocacy Awards were presented to members who
champion members of the small business community.
The winners included:
· Jack M. Sands, former owner of Tavern on the Park; New
Orleans, Louisiana Veteran Small Business Advocate Award
winner
· Eugenie A. Goodwin, Enterprise Corporation of the Delta;
Monroe, Louisiana Financial Services Advocate Award
winner ●
12 ● TEAMWORK LOUISIANA
hough Jefferson Davis Parish has seen some growth and had its success stories over
the years, the parish did not have a plan outlined specifically for economic
development. When Ernie Broussard, CEcD, CCD, AICP, long time economic developer
and city planner, was hired last July, the first thing he did was assemble the leadership
in the parish to develop a strategic planning element so he would know what he was
working towards.
“The economic development strategy for Jeff Davis Parish is based on a very
academic principle of designing its initiatives around its strengths,” said Broussard.
“Our Phase I efforts are to pursue primary and secondary business opportunities with
our agriculture and ship building clusters. We also intend to promote retailing and the
service industry due to our history of hunting, fishing and outdoor activities.”
One such project, Louisiana Green Fuels, is an ethanol manufacturing plant that
will utilize local agricultural products including rice and other grains to produce the
clean burning, renewable fuel that can be used as a fuel oxygenater. The project will be
located on 20 acres in the anticipated industrial development park in Lacassine.
The Lacassine Industrial Park, a 200-acre tract of land on Interstate-10, will be an
important asset to the parish after all infrastructure, roads and rail spur are in place.
The park will offer access to all modes of transportation including on-site rail, arterial
surface transportation, water access from the Ports of Lake Charles and Mermentau, as
well as air carrier service from the Lake Charles Regional Airport and heavy cargo
opportunities from the Chennault International Airpark.
In addition to Louisiana Green Fuels, there are several other companies looking to
locate in the industrial park. One such company would handle CO2 (carbon), which is
a derivative of the ethanol manufacturing process. The parish is also working with a
trucking and warehousing company, in addition to a re-furbisher of train cars. The Lake
Charles Cane Cooperative is interested in moving to the park.
The location on Interstate-10 between Lafayette and Lake Charles, a high traffic
corridor for business and personal travel, makes the area attractive for retailers wanting
to capture a considerable market. Broussard is working with several real estate
developers on retail projects that could bring significant sales tax revenue to the parish.
Broussard is also a big believer in some of the traditional economic development
practices. The parish has plans to market to real estate developers and site consultants
to tell them about how they can operate profitably in Jeff Davis Parish and Southwest
Louisiana. He’ll also work closely with allies in the region and state, conducting tours of
the parish and communicating with them regularly to insure they know about Jeff Davis
Parish.
Regionalism is a part of the plan as well. Instead of competing with neighboring
communities for the large projects, the parish will draw from the resources in the
surrounding 5-parish region, such as the large labor market. “Each community can
contribute to a major project,” said Broussard, “and we plan on continuing to work
with our regional partners.” Jeff Davis is a participant in SouthBest and the Southwest
Louisiana Partnership for Economic Development, two initiatives written about in the
Spring 2003 Issue of this newsletter.
The parish is also focusing on tourism, which it believes can make a significant
contribution to the local economy. It is competing for the Louisiana Veterans Cemetery,
a $8-$9 million construction project creating 35 permanent jobs, that would be
complementary to the existing veterans home. Other plans include expanding a pier on
Lake Arthur to accommodate larger pleasure boats, and constructing a multi-purpose
civic center in Welsh. “We have also formulated a major approach with national
outfitters along the I-10 corridor,” said Broussard
For more information about what is occurring in Jeff Davis Parish, contact Ernie
Broussard, Jeff Davis Parish Office of Economic Development, P.O. Box 1207,
Jennings, LA 70546 Phone: (337) 821-5534 Fax: (337) 821-5536 e-mail:
[email protected] web site: www.jeffdavis.org/econdev.htm ●
WAT C H I N G L O U I S I A N A G R O W
Jefferson Parish Bucks National Climate,
Experiences High-Tech Business & Job Growth
efferson Parish is bucking the current national climate by
experiencing growth in high-tech activity over the last four years.
This was just one of the findings recently released as part of a
comprehensive, independent, eight-month technology audit
commissioned by the Jefferson Parish Economic Development
Commission (JEDCO).
During the years 1999 – 2002, Jefferson Parish experienced a
high-tech growth spurt of 15.3 percent in technology employment and
149 new technology firms were established, according to a study
conducted by the consulting firm of Hammer, Siler, George Associates.
The study also determined that Jefferson Parish is home to over
one-third of all high-tech employment in the New Orleans area.
Furthermore, the parish realized an increase from 26 percent to 32
percent in its overall share of technology employment in the New
Orleans metro area during the four-year period.
Jefferson Parish currently is home to 826 high-tech businesses
employing 9,987 workers.
Dottie Stephenson, JEDCO deputy director – business outreach,
explained that technology development was a critical issue when more
than 100 community leaders came together in 1999 to aid JEDCO in
developing a comprehensive economic development strategy for the
parish called The Jefferson EDGE.
“When strategically planning The Jefferson EDGE in 1999, concern
was expressed that there was a lack of community awareness of the
technical expertise and entrepreneurial talent among our local
technology firms,” Stephenson noted. Conducting the audit and creating
awareness of its findings is the first step to correcting this situation,
Stephenson emphasized.
Attesting to the success of Jefferson Parish’s technology base are
three local, award-winning companies: ReilaGene Technologies, Inc.;
J
DANA Diabecare USA and General Hearing Instruments.
Nominated by JEDCO, ReliaGene Technologies, Inc. received the
state of Louisiana’s 2003 Lantern Award for their pioneering work in
biotechnology.
Founded just over 13 years ago by Dr. Sudhir K. Sinha, ReliaGene
was one of the first private laboratories exclusively devoted to DNA
testing. To date, ReliaGene has tested over 300,000 biological samples,
extracting DNA information for victim identification, paternity
determination, and for criminal cases involving homicide, sexual
assault, burglary and more.
Also nominated by JEDCO and taking home a 2003 “Rising Star of
the Year” State award for technological achievements was DANA
Diabecare USA, founded by Susanne Jernigan. This Louisiana biotech
company designs, distributes and markets insulin infusion pumps for
diabetics. The firm is only one of four in the lucrative North American
market. It is also the first Louisiana company to enter this potential
billion-dollar market.
Receiving an “Innovator of the Year” award from the publishers of
New Orleans’ CityBusiness was Jefferson Parish-based General Hearing
Instruments.
Sufferers of chronic tinnitus, a condition that causes constant
annoying internal ringing in the ears, now can experience relief thanks
to the efforts of this Jefferson Parish firm. General Hearing Instruments
developed, patented and is manufacturing a device that assists a patient’s
brain with “filtering out” the tinnitus signal before it reaches the
conscious level of the brain.
For more information about these technology companies, contact
Dottie Stephenson at (504) 833-1881 or visit the web site at
www.jedco.org. ●
Gubernatorial Forum (cont.)
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3
Secretary Don Hutchinson, LED, provided an overview of the economic
development successes in the legislative session. There were several
revisions to the Quality Jobs and Film and Video Production Tax Credit
programs that open the incentive programs to more companies, but most
notable was the creation of the Major Projects Development Authority, an
authority that has the power to take quick action on projects that create
1,000 new jobs and make a $300 million or greater investment in
Louisiana. More can be read about it in this issue in an article entitled
“Legislative Session Brings Economic Development Benefits.”
The Governor’s Office presented its media campaign for “Choose
Louisiana,” its campaign to promote the positive things going on in
Louisiana to existing and prospective residents. Since the state does not
have an advertising budget for this initiative, it is relying on partnerships
with corporate sponsors to spread the good news about Louisiana.
Sponsors “bring” the message in the advertising and receive the name
recognition for their participation in the project.
Harris, Deville & Associates shared the results of a recent voter survey
on the priority issues in Louisiana. Respondents said the top three problems
in the state were jobs/economy, education and politics, which were issues
that were addressed later in the day by each of the gubernatorial
candidates. However, 72 percent of respondents believed the quality of life
in Louisiana to be excellent or good. A large percentage think the state
should provide tax exemptions to companies to retain and create new jobs.
In the afternoon, four gubernatorial candidates including Lt. Gov.
Kathleen Blanco, Bobby Jindal, Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle, and Mike
Stagg, responded to the questions that LIDEA outlined for the forum. The
questions addressed issues that are of high priority to the membership, and
would also assist them in understanding the candidates’ views on economic
development. Questions ranged from defining economic development to
what would be their day-to-day role in economic development. It was a fast
1-hour session that revealed a great deal about the candidates’ platforms,
mostly focused on improving the way Louisiana does economic
development, though each stated Vision 2020 was a good plan for
Louisiana.
For more information about the presentations, contact LIDEA at
(225) 247-4849 or visit the web site at www.lidea.org. ●
TEAMWORK LOUISIANA ● 13
WAT C H I N G L O U I S I A N A G R O W
Joint Venture to Capture Site Consultants’ Attention
E
conomic developers from Louisiana’s two largest regions partnered to
get the attention of site consultants recently. Representatives from the
New Orleans and Baton Rouge metropolitan areas made a recent trip to
New York City, New Jersey, and Connecticut to promote what southeast
Louisiana has to offer businesses.
Eleven representatives from the 19-parish area spent a week in the two
cities, a major hub for site consultants such as IBM Consulting, Location
Advisory Services, and Cushman & Wakefield, firms responsible for locating
projects throughout the world. This type of trip is a common strategy used
to market to consultants because a wider audience is reached than when
meeting with individual companies. Site consultants locate approximately 70
percent of the new projects each year.
Representatives included Sam Richardson and Philip Seghers, Entergy
Louisiana; Frank Sames, Entergy New Orleans; Tommy Kurtz and Steve
Molnar, MetroVision; Linda Prudhomme and Joe Accardo, Jr., Port of South
Louisiana; Dave Bowman, The Chamber of Greater Baton Rouge; Martha
Collins, Ascension Parish Government; and Don Hutchinson and Skip Smart,
Louisiana Economic Development.
The goal of the trip was to educate the consultants on some of the new
and existing initiatives occurring in the 19-parish southeast region and
Louisiana. Teams of two to three persons presented information about the
region’s labor force, industrial base, ports and transportation arteries, new
state incentives such as Quality Jobs, Biotechnology and Film & Video
Production Tax Credits, and other assets.
In addition to the personal calls, Entergy sponsored a breakfast for the
consultants where Tommy Kurtz, MetroVision, and Dave Bowman, Baton
Rouge Chamber, made multi-media presentations on their respective
regions’ assets and recent investment made. Don Hutchinson, secretary of
the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, presented the state’s
Vision 2020 Plan for economic development including its strategy for
developing the eleven clusters in the state.
Contacts made were all decision makers on locating projects, so the
trip was effective in that Louisiana is now fresh on their minds. “The
response was very positive,” said Frank Sames, “and in fact, one of the
firms we visited negotiated incentives for film and video production
companies and they were excited about the new tax credit program passed
last year.” “Placing the region’s name in front of decision makers is
important.”
In past years, Louisiana has not spent a lot of energy courting
consultants, said Linda Prudhomme, director of business development for
the Port of South Louisiana. That lack of effort shows most, she said, when
lucrative auto plant deals and high tech labs move to South Carolina,
Mississippi and Alabama rather than Louisiana.
Being from different metro areas didn’t pose a problem. Bringing core
industries to a region benefits everyone within a 100-mile radius,” Sames
said. “When the region fights itself over slices from the same pie, we
contradict each other’s efforts. But if we compete for companies outside
our region, the pie grows and that is the way you want to do economic
development. That is how you grow a regional economy.”
This is what can be accomplished when you think ‘outside the box.’
Dave Bowman, executive director of economic development for the
chamber in Baton Rouge, thought the marketing mission worked because
of the teamwork involved. He acknowledged Entergy for ”being the glue that
held it all together.”
The team did much advanced planning and promotion to obtain the
20 or so calls to new and existing contacts. They initially sent out letters
requesting an appointment, but then followed up with two promotional
items, a Tabasco tie and a CD, and phone calls to secure a time and date.
There are three other such trips planned for 2003. Another was just
accomplished in Chicago, which, like the New York trip, is also a major site
consultant, financial and manufacturing hub. The National Plastics Expo was
held in Chicago that same week and was visited. In September the team will
visit Atlanta and Dallas is scheduled for October. ●
MEPoL’s Assistance (cont.)
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 7
and created clutter that had to be worked around.
He found that he could create a better flow for the process with a new
layout called a visual pull system. In a pull system workers produce only
what the operation ahead of them is ready for. This new system helped to
reduce the cloth on the floor, and what remained used color-coding to
identify orders so Bourgeois had a visual of what was going on, thus
limiting the amount of work-in-process on the floor and producing what
the customer needed, when they needed it. Orders were moving through
faster resulting in an increase in orders completed.
Bourgeois said the new system decreased work-in-process by 25
percent over a 2 to 3 month time period, and also saved the company
money from the elimination of overtime. An added bonus was the creation
of a new team-based incentive plan for employees re-aligned to fit the new
14 ● TEAMWORK LOUISIANA
production system.
MEPoL is a not-for-profit organization, providing Louisiana’s small
and medium-sized manufacturers with business and technical solutions
that help them become more productive and more competitive. It is part of
the nationwide Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) network
established by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
For more information on MEPoL’s programs for Louisiana manufacturers,
please contact it at (800) 433-6965 or visit the web site at www.mepol.org.
J&M Industries, founded in 1973, manufactures industrial tarps,
shade cloths and freeze protection products. The privately owned company
employs 100 people at their single facility in Ponchatoula, Louisiana. They
sell their products internationally. Contact: Al Bourgeois, Plant Manager,
(800) 989-1002 or visit their web site at www.jm-ind.com. ●
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CALENDAR
EVENT
DATE
LOCATION
CONTACT INFORMATION
IEDC Annual
September 14-17, 2003
Cincinnati, OH
www.iedconline.org
Worldwide Food EXPO
October 29 - November 1, 2003
Chicago, IL
Bill Peperone (504) 840-2562
www.worldwidefood.com
SEDC Annual Conference
November 8-11, 2003
Hilton Head, SC
www.sedc.org
The Chemical Show
November 18-20, 2003
New York, NY
Bill Peperone (504) 840-2562
www.chemshow.com
LIDEA Membership Meeting
Dec. 3-4
New Orleans
www.lidea.org (225) 612-1020
Bill Peperone will be adding trade shows throughout the year, so give him a call at (504) 840-2562
or e-mail at [email protected] if you would like to participate or have any suggestions for shows.
Louisiana Project Announcements
CADDO
BOSSIER
WEBSTER
5
214
7
99
MOREHOUSE
UNION
CLAIBORNE
RICHLAND
JACKSON
RED RIVER
LA SALLE
JACKSON
CALDWELL
FRANKLIN
TENSAS
LA SALLE
CATAHOULA
GRANT
1
4
1
7
CONCORDIA
CATAHOULA
NATCHITOCHES
SABINE
RAPIDES
MADISON
1
5
WINN
1
2
CONCORDIA
1
12
RAPIDES
VERNON
VERNON
4
157
4
124
AVOYELLES
1
26
ALLEN
BEAUREGARD
WEST
FELICIANA
ST LANDRY
2
125
TT
YE
FA
LA
2
46
E
10
265
CAMERON
VERMILION
1
6
TANGIPAHOA
WEST BATON
ROUGE
1
2
IBERRVILLE
ST MARTIN
1
0
2
35
3
19
IBERIA
EAST
BATON
ROUGE
1
450
ST.
9
418
ASCENSION
ST. JAMES
6
18
21
868
ST.
CHARLES
11
170
EAST
BATON
ROUGE
WEST
BATON
ROUGE
VERMILION
1
20
9
129
IBERIA
ST. MARY
ASCENSION
ST. JAMES
2
30
ASSUMPTION
ST.
MARTIN
3
61
7
308
ST. JOHN
BAPTIST
2
35
26
389
ST.
CHARLES
1
0
TERREBONNE
PLAQUEMINES
TAMMANY
2
15
6
96
3
5
1
3
ST.
LIVINGSTON
11
937
IBERRVILLE
ST MARTIN
WASHINGTON
1
8
LAFOURCHE
3
29
12
184
ON
ON
1
2
CAMERON
5
88
TANGIPAHOA
RS
FE
LAFOURCHE
RS
FE
TERREBONNE
NS
ORLEA
1
34 ST. BERNARD
1
0
E
TT
YE
FA
LA
ST.
HELENA
2
19
2
80
1
125
3
52
EAST
FELICIANA
NS
ORLEA
17
515 ST. BERNARD
JEF
1
5
ST. MARY
ST LANDRY
JEFFERSON
DAVIS
CALCASIEU
ST. JOHN
BAPTIST
WEST
FELICIANA
POINTE
COUPEE
EVANGELINE
ACADIA
2
0
ASSUMPTION
ALLEN
7
0
TAMMANY
1
7
ST.
MARTIN
2
114
BEAUREGARD
LIVINGSTON
9
134
AVOYELLES
WASHINGTON
JEF
1
13
ST.
HELENA
4
83
ACADIA
JEFFERSON
DAVIS
EAST
FELICIANA
POINTE
COUPEE
EVANGELINE
1
0
CALCASIEU
RICHLAND
13
176
RED RIVER
GRANT
2
20
OUACHITA
DE SOTO
TENSAS
2
10
NATCHITOCHES
EAST
CARROLL
1
0
BIENVILLE
FRANKLIN
WINN
SABINE
WEST
CARROLL
LINCOLN
2
9
CALDWELL
DE SOTO
1
6
MADISON
MOREHOUSE
UNION
CLAIBORNE
1
1
2
130
11
250
OUACHITA
12
128
WEBSTER
BOSSIER
WEST
CARROLL
EAST
CARROLL
9
144
BIENVILLE
CADDO
1
2
LINCOLN
PLAQUEMINES
First Quarter, 2003
Second Quarter, 2003
139 Total Projects Announced
165 Total Projects Announced
3,179
Total Permanent Jobs Created
Source: Louisiana Economic Development,
Office of Policy and Research
4,289
Total Permanent Jobs Created
Source: Louisiana Economic Development,
Office of Policy and Research
TEAMWORK LOUISIANA ● 15
ON THE SCENE
National Plastics Exposition
Chicago
June 23-27, 2003
Participants in the five day National Plastics Exposition in Chicago, June 23-27, 2003, are,
left to right, Bill Peperone, Entergy; Jim Landry, Louisiana Economic Development; Scott
O’Neal, North Webster Industrial Park; Don Hays, Hammond Industrial Development
Board; Tana Trichel, Macon Ridge Economic Development Region; Sam Richardson,
Entergy; Frank Sames, Entergy; Willie Crain, Macon Ridge Economic Development Region;
John Ware, Livingston Economic Development Council; and Jerry Bologna, Jefferson Parish
Economic Development Commission.
Society for the Advancement of
Material & Process Engineering
Show (SAMPE)
Participates in the Society for the Advancement of
Material & Process Engineering show (SAMPE), May
12-14, 2003, in Long Beach, California, are, left to
right, Bill Peperone, Entergy; Patrick Eagan,
MetroVision; and Steve Molnar, MetroVision.
16 ● TEAMWORK LOUISIANA
T
E
A
M
W
O
R
K
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
BATON ROUGE, LA
PERMIT #2162
Teamwork Louisiana
5353 Essen Lane, Suite 120
Baton Rouge, LA 70809