This October marks the third anniversary of the formation of the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. On October 16, 2006, Bill Willis (2006 Chair of the Chamber SWLA and Foundation Board) and Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach (2006 Chair of the SWLA Partnership for Economic Development Partnership Board) signed the memorandum of understanding which combined the resources of these three organizations to establish the SWLA Alliance.
Representing public and private entities and serving the five parishes of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jeff Davis, the Alliance unites the region for a common purpose of economic stability and growth for all.
We’ve made good progress, but are still only at the tip of our potential. After being dealt major blows by several hurricanes, our region has embraced the need to adapt and chart new courses, so we can be viable for future generations. There are some who want things to remain the same. There are some who want big changes.
It’s only natural to have these competing desires. As I mature and witness many changes, I’ve come to embrace change. The fact is there will always be change. It’s up to us - as stewards of our region - to make the correct changes to prepare a well planned and stable region for our children and their children.
The Alliance has been busy during the last three years.
We have beefed up our research department with all economic indicators and demographic information, and maintain a data base of potential sites and buildings for companies wanting to expand or relocate to Southwest Louisiana. We have increased our proactive marketing with a new website, regional videos, ads and brochures, and attended major trade shows.
We have worked with existing industry on expansion and retention projects, formed a close working relationship with Louisiana Economic Development and other regions around the state as well as Southeast Texas. We have retained our own representative in Houston to tell our story there and we are beginning discussions with the Houston Partnership, our very large counterpart, on how we can work together on a larger mega-regional basis.
Houston is expected to double in size by 2025 and that growth will impact our area with development opportunities. In case you think that’s a long time away, it’s only 16 years. So, after we have gone through four more presidential elections, Houston will be the fifth largest metro area in the nation. We also are working on infrastructure projects including a new I-10 bridge at Lake Charles, a DeRidder by-pass, Cameron bridgeworks over the ship channel, and development of a new deep water port at the Calcasieu Pass in Cameron.
We have restructured the Alliance Foundation board, the only 501c3 organization in the region devoted exclusively to economic development. The new board has mandated seats from public and private entities spanning all five parishes. All parishes are at the table and we are seeing more regional cooperation than ever thought possible when we began.
We are tackling the need for skilled workers in our area by working with McNeese, our state technical and Community colleges, and parish school boards to prepare our incoming workforce for the jobs available in our region. We have worked with City of Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, and McNeese to develop the region’s SEED Center, a business incubator and one-stop economic development center which will focus on and foster entrepreneurship within our five parishes. Plans are moving forward and we hope to break ground by next summer.
These are a few of the things we are working on, with more on the way.
We conducted a successful capital campaign with over 110 investors, large and small, to fund our region’s economic development efforts. Buy-in has been strong and more funds are needed if we are to gear up. Time is of the essence. The world economy has changed and makes our competitiveness more crucial. We will beef up our international trade efforts and continue to be a part of the state’s new “Blue Ocean” initiative to identify bold new industries and opportunities for our region and the state.
It’s been a fast and progress-filled three years. As they say, for Southwest Louisiana, the Best is Yet to Come! Think globally, act regionally, and talk up Southwest Louisiana.
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