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| Business - SWLA On The Move |
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| 09/18/2008 |
by: Spinnaker Communications, Inc. |
By Bill Krull
Every dollar spent on economic development returns up to $17 to the community, George Swift, his shining pate burning a fierce red with passion, told area leaders Thursday. At a kickoff breakfast for the “SWLA on the Move—Creating Prosperity Campaign,” the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance President said the program targets 2,000 new area jobs at a $35 hourly wage rate.
Three vital issues top the five-year, $2.65 million initiative’s key goals:
- Workforce development and education
- Business retention, expansion and attraction
- Investor relationships
Despite the challenges such as the recent hurricanes and worldwide economic turmoil, or, perhaps because of them, Southwest Louisiana must move to the next level of economic development to enhance the quality of life for the people and for generations to come. With its focus on quality job growth and providing development opportunities for area people, the programs success will create $270 million in new annual payroll, resulting in significantly higher per capita income.
Louisiana—especially Southwest Louisiana—finds itself at the crossroads, facing the option of creating a prosperous future or going backwards, said Campaign Chair Glenn Pumpelly, President and CEO of Pumpelly Oil. This region faces intensive competition, nationally and globally, for investment capital, business opportunities and high quality workers, he said.
“This global competition is stressing our human resources, driving up costs and there’s areas of this country that need jobs while we need people for our jobs. These areas are targeting our business and industry to get those jobs,” Pumpelly warned. “All of us, regardless of what sector you’re in, we’re all vulnerable to worker availability. Our infrastructure needs improvement. Here’s why I’m involved. I’m confident: we’re at a plane here in Southwest Louisiana where we can make majour changes, lasting changes. Most of all, I’m confident in the heart and soul of the people of Southwest Louisiana.”
To make the changes happen, the initiative is focused on several goals and the action plans to achieve them: - Attract, retain and support a highly competitive and productive workforce
- Offer creative business incentives for existing businesses with new economic initiatives
- Close collaboration with city and parish governments for business retention and diversification
- Work with state and regional officials to address tax, health-care and retirement issues
- Serve businesses who want to grow and/or globalize their operations
- Build the area’s brand image and communicate consistent, unified messages about the region’s tremendous resources to decision-makers nationally and internationally
- Leverage the unique resources and strengths of the regions public, university, and career and technical education systems
As Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal said during his many flights into the area before, during and after the recent storms, “Southwest Louisiana is blessed with strong, resilient and purposeful people who always come back stronger than ever.” As the people of this area have proven time and again, this is Southwest Louisiana’s greatest asset.
The SWLA Economic Alliance, along with its newly renamed SWLA Alliance Foundation, is the primary economic development organization for Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jeff Davis parishes. For more information about the campaign, contact Nancy Kelley, Foundation Development Director, at 337.433.3632, ext. 218 or by e-mail at nkelley@allianceswla.org. Also, visit the Alliance’s website at www.allianceswla.org.
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