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2019 Report
George SwiftPresident/[email protected]
Liz DevilleExecutive Vice [email protected]
R.B. SmithVP, Business & WorkforceDevelopment [email protected]
Michelle McInnisFoundation Director & MajorEvents Coordinator [email protected]
Gus FontenotEconomic DevelopmentProject [email protected]
Portia MetoyerBusiness Development &Data [email protected]
Adrian WallaceExecutive Director,Business [email protected]
Cheryl HurenAdministrator,Business [email protected]
Paula RamseyVP, [email protected]
Ana DenisonMember Service [email protected]
Charlene AguillardFinance [email protected]
Linda RobertsonAccounts [email protected]
Sierra SeemionEvents [email protected]
Dottie MonceauxCustomer [email protected]
Eric CormierVP, Strategic Development& Policy [email protected]
Amanda WhiteVP, Communications& Special [email protected]
Our Staff
KEEPING TRACKWITH THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TEAM
2019 was another record setting year for economic activity in our region, as several ofour major industrial projects completed the construction phase and began operations. Looking forward, we may experience a slight lull in industrial construction. However, several mega projects are in the final decision making phase of the process and may reach approval in 2020. This will start the “second wave” of major industrial construction for the future, followed by even more new permanent jobs. With this growth, we will also face challenges for our region. The poverty level continues to hold at about 18%. Our need for more citizens with Science Technology,Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics (STEAM) education and training is critical for the future workforce. Also critical to our region are infrastructure improvements and industry diversification . A newI-10 bridge and keeping the Calcasieu Ship Channel dredged to 40 feet are essential for servingcurrent and future industries, and diversifying our economy to attract and support moretechnology based entrepreneurial businesses is necessary to compete with other regions in thestate and nation. Through your support, we are able to continue to work on attracting and growing newbusinesses in our region, and initiate policies, processes, and discussions that have long termimpacts on our region. We are grateful to have your continuing support in the performance ofthis important work for our region.
Economic Development focuses on retaining, expanding and recruitingnew manufacturing businesses to the community. The goal is to attractand retain businesses that make goods that are shipped out of the region,bringing more money into the region, and creating high skill, high payingjobs.
It is “a game of inches,” in that much of the work to accomplish a “win” for the community is done in numerous business meetings and involves a broad range of complex issues. When a project is publicly announced andthe final details and incentives that are crucial making our regioneconomically competitive are disclosed, we frequently hear less informedmembers of the community say “they are going to come anyway.” In 2019,economic development partners worked quietly and effectively to bring anew steel manufacturer to DeQuincy. Unfortunately, the company selecteda site in South Texas. This is an example when they did not comeanyway. However, in the process of working this project, we found aninterested major land management group with thousands of acres of landthat could become potential sites for future growth in our region. Havinglandowners willing to place their property into commerce is a critical partof the economic development process, so in losing, we also gained avaluable asset for future projects.
R. B. SmithVP, Business & Workforce Development
George SwiftPresident/CEO
Certified Sites
11 Total Sites
4 More Than 2017
Gus Fontenot
Lake
Charles
Regional Airport
- Site
1West Calcasieu
Port
ENTERINGNEWTERRITORYThe effort to get more certified sites in Southwest Louisianacontinued in 2019. The Alliance now has 11 certified sites, up from 7certified sites in 2017. The goal for 2019 was to get at least twomore sites certified. That goal was surpassed and another site isexpected to achieve certification around the end of the year, whichwould bring the total to 12. Final steps are underway for West Cal Port to be the next officiallycertified site, while work continues in the early stages on severalother sites, including one in Allen Parish, which currently does nothave any certified sites. Other sites include one that could be theregion’s first Certified Business Site, and the 12,000-acre mega-sitebetween Vinton and Sulphur called the Calcasieu I-10 site. In 2017, Louisiana Economic Development created a certified siteprogram for smaller sites instead of large industrial sites. The newCertified Business Site program requires less due diligence and isonly applicable to sites between 10 and 25 acres (industrial sitesare 25 acres or more). These sites are geared towards a businesspark, mixed-use development, or Planned Unit Development.Southwest Louisiana is pursuing its first Business Certified Site atLake Charles Regional Airport. An 18-acre site is just now enteringthe certification process. The challenge will be to keep the cost ofcertification below $1,000 per acre. LED normally covers 75% ofdue diligence costs, leaving the landowner responsible for theremaining 25%. If costs exceed $1,000 per acre, the landowner or athird party would have to pay the overage to completecertification. The budget for certification is learned once proposalsare solicited and received for the due diligence work. The Calcasieu I-10 site poses its own challenges to attaincertification. The size of the site, 12,000 acres, makes it financiallyinfeasible to certify the entire site. So, the approach is to identifythe best acreage that is accessible today and developable as-is,which means cleared, minimal wetlands and not in a flood zone.These subdivided sites will be certified in a staggered order overseveral fiscal years to keep budgets manageable. The first sitesbeing considered range from 165 acres to over 400 acres, but if allsites currently being considered are certified, there could be asmany as 2,000 acres certified in just a few years. For more information about the Site Certification Program, contactThe Alliance’s Project Coordinator, Gus Fontenot, at 337.433.3632or [email protected].
Stay Tuned....Training and educating our citizens to be lifelong learners coupled with increasing their
knowledge of science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM), isanother key part of being a competitive community for future economic growth. With a
grant funded by Phillips 66, the Alliance Foundation has conducted an inventory andassessment of the STEAM programs in the five-parish schools, charter schools, Sowela
and McNeese. This is the first step to creating regional STEAM pathways that start in pre-kindergarten and extend through post-secondary and professional education. The
assessment report is underway and will be shared once completed.
2019 Activities
information to help individuals choose a career, get the training andcertifications required, prepare a resume, acquire basic life skills andultimately, land a job. The Southwest Louisiana Workforce Resource Guideinitiative is funded by Sasol and the information within is curated by a networkof Southwest Louisiana workforce development and higher education experts. "With more than 15,000 electronic downloads of the guide, Sasol is thrilledwith the reach and credibility of this initiative, and its success demystifying theprocess to acquire a career in industry," said Crystal Briscoe, Corporate AffairsAdviser for Sasol. "Sasol is a great supporter of the SWLA Economic Development Alliance (theAlliance) and other partnering agencies, helping these organizations developthe 2014 Workforce Resource Guide. This Guide provided a six-step process tohelp unemployed, underemployed, and future workers access the informationand services they need to qualify for entry level employment in the regionalworkforce," said R.B. Smith, VP, Business Development for the Alliance "Five years later, as we prepare for the second wave of industrial expansion,Sasol has again funded the updated Workforce Resource Guide. The 2019edition of the Guide includes new information and services available that areavailable to those seeking employment in the region. More partners areparticipating and additional assistance is available to jobseekers," continuedSmith. Pictured: Michelle McInnis, Alliance Workforce Development Director;Crystal Briscoe, Corporate Affairs Adviser for Sasol; and R.B. Smith, VP,Business Development for the Alliance.
Even with over $109billion in industrialprojects announced forthe region, the Alliance isactively pursuingadditional manufacturingbusinesses to locate inthe region. Inpartnership with Entergy,the Alliance has engagedROI, a research firm thatspecializes in targetingbusinesses that are inexpansion and/orrelocation mode andmatching them withcommunities that arepotential good fits forthem. The leadsgenerated by ROI assistthe Alliance staff inmaking the initial contactwith these companiesneeded to build abusiness relationshipthat attracts theirinterest.
Unprecedented job opportunitiesare emerging as a result of thebillions in investment coming toSouthwest Louisiana. It isimportant that residents whowant to work and succeed intoday's workforce get the requiredtraining and credentials now. TheSouthwest Louisiana WorkforceResource Guide is a road map forjob seekers to get from point A topoint B on their workforcepreparation journey. It includes
Kurt Allen, Air LiquideGregory Bass, Golden Nugget LakeCharlesCharla Blake, Project Build a FutureJonathan Boudreaux, B1 BankDr. Michael Buckles, McNeese StateUniversityHope Buford, Junior League of LakeCharlesMatt Come, PPG IndustriesChristy Comeaux, Calcasieu Parish PublicLibraryLori Drumwright, Pelican State CreditUnionKlint Dubrock, Phillips 66Jessica Edwards, AMERISAFE, Inc.Payton Fruge, McElroy, Quirk, and BurchKaitlyn Gallegos, Visit Lake CharlesAshley Gatte, Empire of the SeedMonte Hickingbottom, Triad Electric &ControlsVelika Hurst-Trahan, BCBSLAAllison Jones, SasolMatt Koch, CSE Credit UnionDoug Mayberry, CitgoCarmen McGrath, Calcasieu ParishAssessor's OfficeKevin Melton, Chennault InternationalAirportJohn Mitchell, Oak Grove Wealth PartnersAlex Mouhot, Stockwell Sievert Law FirmTricia Poncho, Coushatta Tribe ofLouisianaWyvette Pryor-Cousin, Calcasieu ParishPolice JurySarah Piper, Fusion FiveTara Ross, Ross Boy’s Garage LLCZach Rushing, Golden Nugget LakeCharlesAllison Schnake, CHRISTUS OchsnerSWLA FoundationNic Sheppard, West Calcasieu Chamber ofCommerceKatie Simpson, University UnitedMethodist ChurchHaley Tarasiewicz, Healthy ImageMarketingGreg Wilson, Louisiana Companies
Learning to Lead2019 Leadership Class
Graduates
Feedback from this year's class:
What did you like best about this year'sleadership program?
"Feeling connected to the region and,
particularly, that it is possible to make adifference and play a role in the direction of
the community."
What have you gained through yourparticipation in this program?
"I have learned so much about our region.
I've also learning we need to step up and getout of our comfort zone if we want to see
growth and prosperity in our communities."
"I have gained an expanded knowledge, andpotential strategies on ways to connect to,
with, and for people, organizations, andcauses that impact us all in ways that we
may not initially see or feel."
This year's class attended sessions
covering economic development,
business, workforce development,
human services, education,
government, coastal restoration, &
infrastructure
Alliance InvestorsAcadian Ambulance ServiceAir LiquideAlfred Miller Contracting CompanyAlfred Palma, LLCAMERISAFE, Inc. B1 BankBarksdale Credit Union Beauregard Electric CooperativeBeauregard Parish Police JuryBig Easy FoodsBilly Navarre GroupBiolabBrask, Inc.Brossett Architect, LLCBroussard GroupCalcasieu Parish Police JuryCameron CommunicationsCameron LNGCameron Parish Police JuryCameron Parish Port, Harbor &Terminal DistrictCapital OneCenterPoint EnergyCentury 21-Bessette RealtyChampeaux, Evans, HotardCheniere Energy, Inc.Chennault International AirportAuthorityCHRISTUS Ochsner Health SystemC.H. Fenstermaker CITGO Petroleum CorporationCity of DeQuincyCity of DeRidderCity of Lake CharlesCity of OakdaleCity of WestlakeCLECOCoushatta Casino ResortCSE Federal Credit UnionCSRS, Inc.Delta Downs Racetrack Casino &HotelDunham PriceE2E Technology, LLC
EnbridgeEntergyFirst Federal Bank of LouisianaFirst Flight Holdings LLCFirst National Bank of LouisianaFNBDFreshko Food Service, Inc.Fusion FiveGeorgia PacificGolden Nugget Lake CharlesGrace Church in DeRidderGreater Beauregard Chamber of CommerceH & H Industrial, Inc.Hancock WhitneyHealthy ImageIBERIABANKIndorama VenturesIngevity CorporationIsle of Capri Casino HotelJD BankJeff Davis Economic DevelopmentJefferson Davis Electric CooperativeJefferson Financial Federal Credit UnionJohn H. CarterJP Morgan ChaseKaough & Jones Electric CompanyKeiland Construction Kennison Forest ProductsLake Area Marine, Inc.Lake Charles Coca-Cola Bottling CompanyLake Charles Memorial Health SystemLake Charles Regional AirportLake Charles ToyotaLake City TruckingLangley, Williams & CompanyL’Auberge Casino ResortLaundry WorldLotte Chemicals
Louisiana Radio Communications/FulairMagnolia LNGMcDonald’sMcElroy, Quirk & BurchMerchants & Farmers BankMermentau Harbor & Terminal DistrictNorthrop GrummanPedestal BankPhillips 66Port of Lake CharlesPort of VintonPPG IndustriesPumpelly R & H Refractory ServicesRau Financial Group, LLCReCon Management ServicesSabine State BankSafety Council of SWLASasol North AmericaScalisi, Myers & White (APC)Scofield, Gerard, Pohorelsky, Gallaugher & Landry, LLCSouthland EnvironmentalSouthwest Beverage CompanySouthwest Louisiana Credit UnionStine, Inc.Stockwell, Sievert, Viccellio, Clements & Shaddock. LLPStream FamilySuddenlinkTC Energy FoundationTellurian, Inc. Town of IowaTown of VintonTurner IndustriesVenture Global LNG, Inc.Visit Lake CharlesWeeks MarineWest Calcasieu Cameron HospitalWest Calcasieu Port
Revised 12/5/19 mam
Includes Chamber & Foundation Investors 2019
