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 CLEDA and CU signed a
Memorandum of Understanding to pair CLEDA’s expert technical assistance and wrap around business
services with access to business micro-loan opportunities 
from CU. CU is able to offer loans because of its
designation by the U.S. Treasury as a CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution). This
partnership
serves entrepreneurs who are participating in CLEDA’s programs throughout the ten-parish region,
and is part of a larger system that builds communities of successful businesses that become
mainstream banking clients. CLEDA and CU specifically work with entrepreneurs who can’t qualify
for mainstream financial
products without dedicated assistance.
In May of 2018 this partnership made its first loan to a small local business; From the Ground,
LLC, (Vernon Parish) owned and operated by Patti and Fredie Manes. This small business loan has
made it possible for the owners to purchase two high tunnels (low-tech greenhouses) to expand
production on their small organic farm. This expansion will help them meet the ever-rising
demand for access to fresh, healthy, local food in central Louisiana. From the Ground sells
fresh produce directly to consumers and participates in both the Alexandria Farmers Market
(Tuesdays year-round 3-6 pm) and the Lafayette Farmers & Artisan Market (Saturdays
year-round 8-Noon).
Gary Perkins, Director of the Business Acceleration
System at CLEDA, was excited to see the amazing growth and accomplishments of these local
entrepreneurs and points out that they are purchasing high tunnels from a local business, JCM
Greenhouse Mfg. in Forest Hill, LA; owned and operated by Cody and Christine Meshell, who are
successful graduates of CLEDA’s business services programs themselves. The entire process was
coordinated closely with the USDA NRCS, and the field agent Adam Malcolm, working with the
Manes’ farm, is a graduate of the Louisiana Food Fellowes Program that is part of the Fresh
Central Local Food Initiatives at CLEDA. Demonstrating how interconnected rural revitalization
is and the importance of cross-collaboration to provide wrap-around care and supportive services
for the success of entrepreneurs.
CLEDA has a long history of providing effective business services for central Louisiana
entrepreneurs. No matter where you are on the spectrum of entrepreneurship (Idea → Side hustle →
start-up → small-business → big-business → high-growth business), CLEDA Business Services has
tools, resources and programs to help you grow and thrive. The latest partnership with CU will
greatly expand the impact of programming and services as we work collaboratively to:
• Speed the development of entrepreneurs
• Guide entrepreneurs to the knowledge they need to grow their companies
• Increase business revenues and build the Central Louisiana economy
• Multi-faceted approach
– One-on-one coaching
– Expert technical assistance
– Classroom learning
– Web-based instruction
• Specializing in services for business owners who are willing to change, willing to work hard,
willing to collaborate, and who are ready for exceptional results.
• Increase small business bankability with financial literacy, credit repair, and banking skills
development.
Communities Unlimited, Inc. (CU)
Communities Unlimited is a 501(c)3 nonprofit community development organization providing
resources across seven southern states in support of locally-led initiatives to improve the
lives of those that live and work in rural communities and neighborhoods within larger urban
areas. CU combines fundamental infrastructure improvement with entrepreneurial growth
strategies to move rural places along a trajectory toward prosperity. We accomplish this
through local on-site technical assistance, training, lending, GIS mapping services and
strategic partnerships. Communities Unlimited, Inc. is an equal opportunity employer,
lender, and provider. Learn more at www.CommunitiesU.org
The Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance (CLEDA) is an organization which consists of the economic development entities from the parishes (counties) of Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon and Winn. The mission of the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance is to help people prosper in vibrant, thriving communities. www.cenla.org and www.freshcentral.org . CLEDA programs are supported in part by Keller Enterprises, LLC, The Rapides Foundation, USDA-Natural Resource Conservation Service, and Capital One.
Media Contacts:
Bahia Nightengale
Director of Local Food Initiatives
Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance
Phone: 318-441-3408
Deborah Temple
Director of Lending
Communities Unlimited, Inc.
870-403-3285
#####
ALEXANDRIA FARMERS MARKET TO ACCEPT SNAPRecipients 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 the market welcome tent in exchange for tokens for the amount of their purchase and use the tokens to buy eligible food products at vendor booths. In addition, through a sponsorship from United Healthcare, the market will match SNAP benefits dollar for dollar, so SNAP recipients will receive twice the amount of tokens to use on market visits.
“Accepting SNAP at the market means we are increasing access to fresh, local 
food for individuals with low incomes, and
it also benefits farmers, ranchers and agriculture artisans by bringing new shoppers to the
market and diversifying the customer base,” said Allison Tohme, Farmers Market Program Developer
for the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. “Offering the match allows SNAP
customers to stretch their dollars further so they’ll get more bang for their buck.”
Almost all items for sale at the market are eligible for purchase with SNAP benefits. This includes fresh fruits and vegetables, food-producing plants, breads and baked goods, meat, seafood, poultry, eggs, honey, nuts, jams, jellies, salsas and pickles. Customers can use their match portion on any item sold at the market.
“We do not want SNAP customers to feel limited in what they can shop for. Offering the match allows them to enjoy all products that the market has to offer, and we hope it encourages them to use their SNAP dollars at the farmers market instead of a grocery or convenience store,” Tohme said.
SNAP is a federal program that offers nutrition assistance to millions of eligible, low-income individuals and families across the nation. In Rapides Parish alone, almost 20 percent of the population is enrolled in the SNAP food-assistance program.
“Developing farmers markets are a great
way to improve the quality of life in our communities, and this new SNAP program will make
markets and local food more accessible to many of our residents,” said CLEDA President Jim
Clinton. Tohme elaborated by stating, “Access to fresh food is an important issue. Our market’s
location and environment make it accessible and welcoming by car, bus, or even biking or walking
from the surrounding neighborhood. This new SNAP program improves the market’s accessibility
from a totally different perspective.”
CLEDA’s Farmers Market Program is funded under a two-year Healthy Behaviors Program Grant from The Rapides Foundation. The program is part of the Central Louisiana Local Food Initiative, a community effort created in 2012 to strengthen Central Louisiana’s local food economy while increasing access to fresh food for all residents of the region. Administered by CLEDA, the initiative was created with a Challenge for a Healthier Louisiana Grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation and matching funding from The Rapides Foundation, and it is currently supported by grants and investments from the community.
Tohme said the SNAP program at the Alexandria Farmers Market was made possible through community partnerships. A Venture Fund grant from The United Way of Central Louisiana funded startup costs plus 12 months of processing and service fees. The Central Louisiana Community Foundation has been the market’s fiscal agent since 2016 and will ensure payments are processed properly. United Healthcare is sponsoring the matching incentive. First United Methodist Church of Alexandria provides the market space. The Rapides Foundation funds the farmers market development work in Central Louisiana, and CLEDA administers these efforts.
“At CLEDA, our job is to connect farmers markets with resources, and the Alexandria Farmers Market is a perfect example of connections that work well,” Clinton said. “Farmers markets are vital to the economy, and they ultimately serve to put more healthy food on the plates of Central Louisiana adults and children.”
The Alexandria Farmers Market is open on Tuesdays from 3-6 p.m. in the First United Methodist Church of Alexandria parking lot at 2727 Jackson Street. Three other Central Louisiana farmers markets – the Natchitoches Farmers Market, Oberlin Farmers Market, and Inglewood Harvest Barn Market – accept SNAP benefit cards.
The Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance (CLEDA) is an organization which consists of the economic development entities from the parishes (counties) of Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon and Winn. The mission of the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance is to help people prosper in vibrant, thriving communities.
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation is building a healthier Louisiana through community outreach and charitable giving. In addition to the Challenge for a Healthier Louisiana, the Foundation has two signature programs: The Angel Award®, an annual recognition of outstanding Louisiana volunteers who improve the quality of life for at-risk children, and Smart Bodies®, a school-based program to prevent childhood obesity. Blue Cross also contributes nearly $2 million annually to various nonprofit organizations throughout the state that contribute to health, education and the overall quality of life in Louisiana communities. The Foundation is funded solely through Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana.
The Rapides Foundation is a philanthropic organization that develops initiatives and provides grants to organizations that share the Foundation’s mission to improve the health status of Central Louisiana. The Foundation’s service area consists of Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon and Winn parishes.
Media Contact:
Allison Tohme
Farmers Market Program Developer
Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance
318-441-3423
REGISTER HERE
]]>The project will eventually create more than 100 direct permanent jobs.
“We are excited to be bringing a high-tech sawmill, and the skilled jobs it will provide, to central Louisiana, and to provide a local outlet for the massive inventory of southern yellow pine that exists in this region,” said James D. Hunt, co-owner and vice chairman of Hunt Forest Products.
“We believe this is the right project, in the right place, at the right time,” Hunt said. “This will boost the local economy, bring a new generation of sawmill technology to our state, and provide a much-needed outlet for central Louisiana timber.”
Gov. John Bel Edwards said the new plant will create economic development waves throughout the region.
“This project is a great economic boost to the center of the state, in the heart of our historic timber industry, and it will help create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs across the forestry, industrial services and retail sectors in Urania and LaSalle Parish,” Edwards said.
Tolko, which produces a wide range of forest products for customers globally, will own a 50 percent share of LaSalle Lumber Company. Hunt Forest Products will manage and operate the plant.
“This is our first venture into the United States, and we are thrilled to be in Louisiana with Hunt Forest Products, a family-owned company like ours, and one that has played a vital, reliable role in this state’s forestry industry for more than a century,” said Brad Thorlakson, Tolko president and chief executive.
The companies will access the Louisiana Department of Economic Development’s FastStart workforce development program in coordination with Central Louisiana Technical Community College to build and train the workforce for the new mill.
LaSalle Lumber Co. will be situated in Urania on the 125-acre site of a previous mill and adjacent to one of Drax Biomass’ wood pellet plants.
Byproducts of LaSalle Lumber will supply the Drax Biomass’ plant, while the lumber produced at the mill will be sold to other companies and customers.
Drax Biomass announced earlier this month it was moving its corporate headquarters from Atlanta to Monroe. It also operates a wood pellet plant in Morehouse Parish as well as one in Mississippi.
]]>State-of-the-art lumber mill will create 110 direct jobs and result in over 300 new indirect jobs
URANIA, La. — Today, Gov. John Bel Edwards and Hunt Forest Products co-owner James D. Hunt announced the company will build a state-of-the-art $115 million lumber mill in Urania, a LaSalle Parish community in the heart of Louisiana’s $11 billion forest products industry.
The sawmill project will create 110 new direct jobs with an average annual salary of more than $46,000, plus benefits. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project also will result in another 307 new indirect jobs, for a total of over 400 new jobs in Central Louisiana. Construction of the mill will begin in April, with operations slated to start in early 2019.
“This project is a great economic boost to the center of the state, in the heart of our historic timber industry,” Gov. Edwards said, “and it will help create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs across the forestry, industrial services and retail sectors in Urania and LaSalle Parish. We thank Hunt Forest Products for the confidence company leaders are showing in Louisiana and our workforce through this investment.”
Based in Ruston, Louisiana, Hunt Forest Products will prioritize buying timber locally. The Urania sawmill will require up to 850,000 tons of wood per year, with plans to produce approximately 200 million board feet of lumber annually. Hunt already operates a LaSalle Parish lumber mill in nearby Olla, along with a Grant Parish plywood plant in Pollock. Statewide, Hunt Forest Products employs 350 before the addition of the new Urania sawmill.
“We are excited to be bringing a high-tech sawmill – and the skilled jobs it will provide – to Central Louisiana, and to provide a local outlet for the massive inventory of southern yellow pine that exists in this region,” said company co-owner Hunt, who also is vice chairman of the Hunt Forest Products board of directors. “This will boost the local economy, bring a new generation of sawmill technology to our state, and provide a much-needed outlet for Central Louisiana timber.”
The new $115 million lumber mill also will be a Foreign Direct Investment, or FDI, project. Operating under the name LaSalle Lumber Company LLC, the sawmill is a joint venture between Hunt Forest Products and Tolko Industries Ltd., a 60-year-old, family-owned Canadian forestry company that produces a wide range of forest products for customers around the world. Based in Vernon, British Columbia, Tolko will own a 50 percent share in the mill, which will be managed and operated by Hunt on a day-to-day basis.
“This is our first venture into the United States,” said Tolko President and CEO Brad Thorlakson, “and we are thrilled to be in Louisiana with Hunt Forest Products, a family-owned company like ours, and one that has played a vital, reliable role in this state’s forestry industry for more than a century.”
LED began formal discussions with Hunt Forest Products about the potential project in June 2017. To secure the project, the State of Louisiana offered a competitive incentive package that includes the comprehensive workforce solutions of LED FastStart®, ranked as the No. 1 state workforce training program in the nation. Hunt Forest Products also will receive a performance-based, forgivable loan of $1 million under the Economic Development Award Program, with those proceeds offsetting the costs to construct a rail spur for the mill. In addition, the company is expected to utilize the state’s Industrial Tax Exemption and Quality Jobs programs.
The project also will generate 150 construction jobs. Upon the sawmill’s scheduled beginning of operations in early 2019, Hunt Forest Products initially will employ 60 people and ramp up to 110 employees at full capacity in succeeding years. Urania Mayor Terri Corley said Hunt Forest Products is working with community officials to coordinate services for the new mill, and to identify and address potential infrastructure issues.
“The forestry industry is what led Henry Hardtner to establish the town of Urania almost 130 years ago, so we’re very pleased to be working with Hunt Forest Products and Tolko to bring LaSalle Lumber Company – a new economic engine – to our community,” Mayor Corley said.
Corley noted the new sawmill will generate revenue for Urania as a customer of its municipal water supply and wastewater treatment system. The mill will be built on 125 acres of the old 285-acre Louisiana Pacific sawmill site. Drax Biomass now occupies the other 160 acres of that site, and the new sawmill is planning to supply residuals and wood fiber to Drax for use in manufacturing wood pellets.
“We are excited about this partnership with Hunt Forest Products and being able to leverage the innovative approach of having a sawmill located next to our newest sustainable wood pellet facility, LaSalle Bioenergy,” said President and CEO Pete Madden of Drax Biomass. “This makes perfect sense for our business model, lowers our carbon footprint, and is an incredibly efficient, cost-effective way to capitalize on wood residuals.”
“Congratulations to LaSalle Parish and Hunt Forest Products LLC on this important announcement for Central Louisiana,” said President and CEO Jim Clinton of the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. “LaSalle’s parish and municipal leadership have worked hard to build economic opportunity for their citizens. Our thanks also go out to Governor John Bel Edwards and the professionals at LED for their leadership and commitment.”
About Hunt Forest Products
Hunt Forest Products LLC is a full-service wood products company founded in 1978
with the purpose of providing quality products and superior service. The company
manufactures a variety of plywood, lumber and other specialty wood products to customer
specifications. Hunt Forest Products is a family-owned and operated company practicing
sustainable forestry, with certification by the American Tree Farm System and APA, the
Engineered Wood Association. For more information, visit HuntForPro.com.
About Tolko
Tolko is a leading manufacturer of a wide range of forest products for customers
around the world, including lumber, plywood and veneer oriented-strand-board co-products,
biomass power and a growing number of specialty wood products. For more than 60 years, the
family-owned company has delivered reliability, flexibility, efficiency and quality. Tolko
holds third-party certification on the forestlands it manages sustainably in British
Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, and the company plays an active role in the communities
where its employees live and work. For more information, visit Tolko.com.
Post originally appeared on OpportunityLouisiana.com
]]>a wide variety of economic development services which include recruitment, retention, and development of major employers; development of knowledge platforms and
networks to achieve higher levels of educational and skills attainment; and regional innovation initiatives in entrepreneurship, food systems development, and maker
communities. CLEDA prides itself as an innovative, mission-driven organization.
Title: EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT
Reports To: Vice President — Major Employers Division
SUMMARY
CLEDA and the Major Employers Division seeks a bright, energetic, and experienced professional
to support its Vice President in day to day operations of the Division.
This position reports directly to the Division’s Vice President. This person will be engaged in
high quality clerical and administrative support in a well-organized and
timely manner. This person will work on a one-to-one basis on a variety of tasks related to the
Division’s initiatives and communication needs.
The person chosen to support the Vice President will be responsible for:
• Act as the point of contact between the Vice President and external contacts/clients
• Manage phone calls, messages, and route correspondence
• Handle requests and queries appropriately
• Maintain calendars, arrange meetings and appointments, and provide reminders
• Make travel arrangements
• Facilitate internal communication (e.g. distribute information & schedule
presentations)
• Produce regular reports, presentations, and briefs
• Develop and maintain an efficient documentation and file system
• Suggest efficient ways to manage office workflows and systems
QUALIFICATIONS
• Proven experience as an executive administrative assistant, senior executive assistant, or in
other similar position
• Full comprehension of office management systems and procedures
• Excellent knowledge of MS Office
• Familiarity with online calendars and cloud systems
• Familiarity with management of social media outlets and websites (data entry only, no
coding)
• Experienced use of office equipment, which includes printers and fax machines
• Proficiency in English
• Exemplary ability to plan and manage time
• Up-to-date with advancements in office gadgets, applications, and software
• Ability to multitask and prioritize daily workload
• High level verbal and written communications skills
• Experienced ability to exercise discretion and confidentiality with sensitive company
information
• Excellence organizational skills with an ability to think proactively and prioritize work
• High School degree; additional qualification as personal assistant would be considered an
advantage
Salary and Benefits: CLEDA will provide a competitive wage and benefit package for the right
person for this job. Specifics will depend on the selected candidate’s
experience and background.
APPLY by e-mail only. Provide your resume, include work history, educational background,
references, and other evidence of leadership (along with a cover letter if you
prefer) to lsimpson@cenla.org. For additional information on CLEDA, please
review our website at www.cenla.org.
NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE
CLEDA provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) to all employees and applicants for
employment without
regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability or genetics
JEANNETTE GOLDSMITHVICE PRESIDENT
Site Selectors Guild Member
Jeannette Goldsmith is Vice President of Strategic Development Group, where she specializes in site selection and incentive negotiations for clients worldwide.
Jeannette’s background spans more than 20 years in site location consulting, incentive negotiations, and economic development consulting with McCallum Sweeney and then with her own company, Goldsmith Strategy. Her specific experience includes a heavy focus on manufacturing (specifically, aerospace, logistics, advanced materials and automotive sectors), as well as office sectors. Recent clients include Suntory, Boeing, Nissan North America, Suncoke Energy and Vought Aircraft. Among Jeannette’s most notable projects, are Nissan North America’s headquarter relocation from Los Angeles to Nashville, the Boeing 7E7 Final Assembly siting project and the Vought Aircraft / Alenia Aeronautica 7E7 supplier site project.
Her most recent economic development assignments include evaluating automotive assembly sites for NCRR and developing and implementing a site certification program for Mississippi Power Company. In addition, she recently completed an economic development strategic plan for Transylvania County, NC and Citrus County, FL. Jeannette has designed several site certification programs, including the South Carolina Department of Commerce Certified Site Program, the Mississippi Power Certified Site Program and the site evaluation program for Duke Energy.
Jeannette achieved a Masters of Public Policy from Duke University and earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Government from Smith College. She was honored with the Graduate Student of the Year Award from the Terry Sanford Institute in 1995 and is a proud member of the Site Selectors Guild, South Carolina Economic Developers Association, as well as the International Economic Development Council.
Register Here
]]>
2018 FOODAPALOOZA SCHEDULED JANUARY 11-12Annual 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 food event in the state, featuring nationally-recognized authors, artists, health experts, and economists, is Louisiana’s premiere event for engaging conversations about the importance of fresh, healthy, local food.
REGISTER HERE
For the first time, all 2018 Foodapalooza events will take place at the Alexandria Museum of Art at 933 2nd St., Alexandria. For the convenience of participants, CLEDA has reserved a block of rooms at the nearby downtown Alexandria Holiday Inn.
“With a new format and a new venue, the sixth annual Foodapalooza reflects the growth of Central Louisiana’s local food movement,” said John Cotton Dean, Director of CLEDA’s Rural Prosperity Initiative. “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 provide more opportunities for people to connect with local food partners and leaders.”
The 2018 Foodapalooza begins with an evening panel discussion on Thursday and continues through Friday with morning recreational opportunities and an afternoon conference featuring speakers from across food economy sectors. All events are free of charge.
Foodapalooza is part of the Central Louisiana Local Foods Initiative, a community effort that aims to strengthen Central Louisiana’s local foods economy while increasing access to fresh foods for all residents of the region. The initiative was created in 2012 with a Challenge for a Healthier Louisiana Grant from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation and matching funding from The Rapides Foundation. The Initiative is currently supported by funding from The Rapides Foundation, the USDA’s National Resource Conservation Service, as well as a philanthropic investment from Keller Enterprises, LLC.
“Now in its sixth year, Foodapalooza has
become the region’s most recognized local food event,” said Jim Clinton, CLEDA President and
CEO. “The event demonstrates the strength of the region’s local food partners and the continued
commitment to growing the local food economy.”
The Thursday evening panel discussion – “Healthy People, Healthy Economies & Vibrant Places” – is a unique conversation intended to bridge the public health, public policy, economic development and local food sectors. Panelists for the 5:30-6:30 p.m. event are Angie Tagtow, former executive director of the USDA’s Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion; Andrew Dumont, senior community development analyst, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Debra Tropp, deputy director of Local Food Research and Development, USDA Agricultural Marketing Service; Arthur Neal, USDA deputy administrator of Farmers Markets and Local Food Marketing; and Rachel Reynolds Luster, managing director of the Artist’s Laboratory Theater.
Friday morning’s event, “Boots, Boats and Bikes,” is a self-directed outdoor recreation opportunity. Participants who register will be able to explore hiking, paddling and running locations throughout Central Louisiana on their own. “We added this component to show all the recreational opportunities that Central Louisiana has to offer,” Dean said.
The Foodapalooza Conference will be from 1-4 p.m. on Friday and feature keynote presentations by Tagtow and Luster as well as networking sessions for people interested in getting connected and learning more about Central Louisiana’s local food movement.
Tagtow is a Senior Fellow and Endowed Chair at the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences. She is a registered dietitian with more than 25 years experience working at local, state, federal and international levels in agriculture, food, nutrition policy, public health, and food and water systems. In 2014, she was appointed as the Executive Director for the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion.
Luster is a Missouri writer, folklorist, fiddler, textile artist and community organizer whose work focuses on addressing the holistic health of her home county through land-based cultural and economic initiatives. She is currently crafting a dissertation that seeks to apply key principles from ecology to cultural practice, focusing on cultural initiatives that encourage the economic, cultural, spiritual and environmental well-being of Oregon County and its enduring cultural traditions. Rachel currently serves as a contributing editor for the Art of the Rural.
For more information and to register, visit FreshCentral.org/2018Foodapalooza.
Foodapalooza is funded by The Rapides Foundation’s Healthy Behavior’s Program Grant, the National Resource Conservation Service and Keller Enterprises, LLC.
The Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance (CLEDA) is an organization which consists of the economic development entities from the parishes (counties) of Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Concordia, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon and Winn. The mission of the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance is to help people prosper in vibrant, thriving communities.
The Rapides Foundation is a philanthropic organization that develops initiatives and provides grants to organizations that share the Foundation’s mission to improve the health status of Central Louisiana. The Foundation’s service area consists of Allen, Avoyelles, Catahoula, Grant, LaSalle, Natchitoches, Rapides, Vernon and Winn parishes.
Media Contact:
John Cotton Dean
Director of Regional Innovation
Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance
Phone: 318-441-3424
#####
]]>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
region’s local food partners and leaders.
The 2018 Foodapalooza begins with an evening panel discussion on Thursday, January 11th, and continues through Friday, the 12th, with a Conference featuring speakers from across our food economy sectors. Registration will open just after Thanksgiving– so make sure to stay updated at FreshCentral.org and with this newsletter. Make sure to view the Save the Date flyer here!
Both the Foodapalooza Panel and Conference will be held at the Alexandria Museum of Art, located in historic downtown Alexandria.
Friday’s Foodapalooza Conference will feature two national leaders in their respective fields:
Angie Tagtow is a Senior Fellow and Endowed Chair at the Minnesota Institute for Sustainable Agriculture, University of Minnesota College of Food, Agricultural, and Natural Resource Sciences. Angie is a registered dietitian with more than 25 years of experience working at local, state, federal, and international levels in agriculture, food, nutrition policy; public health; and food and water systems. In 2014, she was appointed by President Barack Obama as the Executive Director for the USDA Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion (CNPP).
Rachel Reynolds Luster was born and raised in Arkansas and now lives in Couch, Missouri, in the Ozark Mountains. She is a writer, folklorist, fiddler, textile artist, and community organizer there where her work focuses on addressing the holistic health of her home county through land-based cultural and economic initiatives. She has several publications under her belt including The Anthology of Arkansas Folksong, which she co-edited, several entries in the online Encyclopedia of Arkansas, and a biographical sketch of one of her folklore heroes, Mary Celestia Parler, in the Overland Review. Currently, she is crafting a dissertation which seeks to apply key principles from ecology to cultural practice, focusing on cultural initiatives that encourage the economic, cultural, spiritual, and environmental well-being of Oregon County, her home, and its enduring cultural traditions. Rachel currently serves as a Contributing Editor for the Art of the Rural.
We hope to see you on January 11th and 12th for the 6th Annual Foodapalooza!
]]>
CLEDA is proud to host the 2017 Summit on the Future of Higher Education in Central Louisiana.
This region is home to four major teaching and training institutions who, together, can provide
an opportunity-rich environment for the residents of our parishes.
REGISTER HERE
CLEDA is proud to host the 2017 Summit on the Future of Higher Education in Central Louisiana. This region is home to four major teaching and training institutions who, together, can provide an opportunity-rich environment for the residents of our parishes.
Please join us from 10:30 AM until 2:00 PM on Monday, November 13 in the Alexandria Convention Hall for this important set of presentations. You will hear straight from the leaders of Northwestern State University, Louisiana College, Louisiana State University of Alexandria and the Central Louisiana Technical College how we will meet the challenges of the next decade.
Our future prosperity as a region will be a direct product of how much we learn and how well we apply it. Don’t miss this chance to engage in the discussions on the most important issues facing Central Louisiana.
10:00 AM Jim Clinton (CLEDA)
10:20 AM Dr. Rick Brewer (Louisiana College)
10:45 AM Dr. Chris Maggio (Northwestern State University)
11:15 AM Dr. Joseph Rallo (Louisiana Board of Regents)
12:00 PM Serving Lines Open for Lunch
12:15 PM Dr. Guiyou Huang (Louisiana State University at Alexandria)
12:45 PM Jimmy Sawtelle (Central Louisiana Technical Community College)
]]>