FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Business Micro-Lending Supports Small Enterprises in Central Louisiana A partnership between the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance (CLEDA), and Communities Unlimited, Inc. (CU), serves local start-ups with expert technical assistance and access to small business micro-loans.   ALEXANDRIA, LA, May 30, 2018 – In February of 2018 ...

ALEXANDRIA FARMERS MARKET TO ACCEPT SNAP Recipients can use benefit cards to buy fresh, local food Beginning June 5, the Alexandria Farmers Market will begin accepting Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefit cards to help make it easier for lower-income families to buy and eat fresh, local food. SNAP recipients can swipe their EBT cards at ...

2018 FOODAPALOOZA SCHEDULED JANUARY 11-12 Annual event celebrates local foods and local food producers ALEXANDRIA – The sixth annual Foodapalooza, an event that celebrates Central Louisiana foods and food producers, will be held January 11-12 in Alexandria and feature a new venue and format. Hosted by the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, the largest local ...

With a new format, and a new venue, the 6th Annual Foodapalooza reflects the growth of Central Louisiana’s local food movement. As more year-round farmers markets have sprung up, and with more local food being included in our region’s restaurants and institutions, Foodapalooza’s new format will feature more opportunities for participants to connect with this ...

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   October 3, 2017     Mexi-Cajun Expands Westward into Major Regional Grocery Chain   Mexi-Cajun, makers of premium products blending the flavors of Mexican and Cajun cuisine, is pleased to announce the expansion of product distribution into Brookshire Grocery Company stores, a prestigious Tyler, Texas-based grocery chain known for quality foods, ...

Kids Club Launching at Two Markets this June! We all want kids to eat their fruits and veggies, and Central Louisiana’s farmers markets are making it a little easier to ensure they do. Kids Club is a program that provides children with wooden tokens that are redeemable for fresh produce – at no cost to ...

Fresh Central is hosting a series of short courses in May 2017, with topics designed for small, diversified farms, market gardeners, and skill-seekers interested in farming and large scale gardening for fun and profit. These short courses are an in-depth exploration of farm technology fundamentals and best practices that can help you build a lean, ...

The Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance (CLEDA) is excited to announce the first Farm to Table event of 2017, on April 20th from 8:30 – 9:30 am in the Vault at the CLEDA offices in downtown Alexandria. Farm to Table events are geared towards restaurants, institutions, and businesses that buy/sell food on a regular basis, ...

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