19
LouisianaExport Guide
2015-2016
S
ince itsfirstoilwell in1901, Louisiana’seconomicback-
bonehasbeenenergy. But timesarechanging, andLouisi-
ana–especiallySouthLouisiana– isdiversifying.
“Thegroundwork laid to facilitateour industrial base ismak-
ing it easier forouremergingentrepreneurial class toexport
theirgoodsglobally,” saidDavidConner, vicepresidentof
economicdevelopment and international services for theSouth-
west LouisianaEconomicAlliance.
In2014, theSouthwestLouisianaEconomicDevelopmentAlli-
ancecompleted itsefforts tokick-off theExportTrainingprogram
for theStateofLouisiana. TheAllianceestablished thisprogram
with funding from theOfficeofCommercialDevelopment/Disas-
terRecoveryUnit.During thepast twoyears, theprogram trained
nearly500 residents. Theprogramcoordinator/director,Marisol
Canedo, servedasacontractor forLeake&Andersson, aNew
Orleans-based international trade legalfirm. TheAlliancehasnow
formally turned theprogramover to theLouisianaDistrictExport
Council, andCanedowill continueasprogramcoordinator.
To fullydevelopSouthwestLouisiana’spotential for interna-
tional trade, theSouthwestLouisianaEconomicDevelopmentAlli-
ancehascreated International ServicesofSouthwestLouisiana to
promoteandexpand international commercebyprovidingdirect
assistanceandconnections to thenetworkof international trade
resources to thebusinesscommunity in the region.
Thegrouphopes tocreatenew jobsbyassisting small-and
medium-sizedbusinesses,minorityandwomen-ownedbusi-
nessesand start-upbusinesses inSouthwest Louisiana inexport-
ing theirproductsor servicesabroad throughnetworking
opportunities suchas trademissions. Thegroupalsowill pro-
mote international tourismasbothaneconomiccommodity
aswell asacultural experience.
InternationalServicesofSouthwestLouisianaoperatesoutof the
SouthwestLouisianaEntrepreneurialandEconomicDevelopment
(SEED)Center–a50,000square-foot facility locatedon theMc-
NeeseStateUniversitycampus. It isaone-stopshop foreconomic
developmentandsupport for localbusiness inafive-parisharea.
TheSEEDCenterhasbeendesigned toprovideanenvironment
thatwill stimulate small business formation, jobcreationand
economicdiversificationwhilemeeting thegrowingentrepre-
neurialneedsof the region. Thecenterhousesofficesandwork
space forbusiness incubators, training labs, staffofficesand
conference rooms.Consulting services, counseling, networking
andmanagementassistanceareprovided toencourage small
businessdevelopmentandeconomicdiversification.
SouthwestLouisiana:
DevelopingTrade
“Consulting services, counseling,
networking andmanagement
assistance are provided…”
