jclinton's blog

Since the announcement of the closing of International Paper's Pineville plant, a group of the region's economic developers has been meeting at the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce. These meetings are intended to help chart the magnitude and nature of the economic disruption, and to plan and execute appropriate responses.

The first issue of Moves Magazine, a publication from the Louisiana Community and Technical College System Foundation, arrived recently.

The Baton Rouge Business Report says that Baton Rouge-based IEM will soon become North Carolina-based IEM.

A couple of time-related apologies to start. First, I should have taken note of the Wall Street Journal review that triggered this entry when it was published in October. Second, this installment of CenlaFuture will of necessity be more nostalgic than I would prefer.

 "In fall 1999, the Louisiana Community & Technical College System awarded 44% of all associate degrees in Louisiana. By fall 2008-09, LCTCS was awarding 64% of associate degrees."--Council for a Better Louisiana

My former colleagues at Southern Growth Policies Board noted in their Southern Compass newsletter today, the release of a new Kauffman Foundation report on job creation and young businesses.

Both Louisiana and the Alexandria MSA fare very well in the 2009 Milken Institute Index of Best Performing Cities.

The Kauffman Foundation is devoted to entrepreneurship in the United States. Each year the Foundation publishes an Index of Entrepreneurial Activity. The 2008 report covers the period from 1996-2008.

Once upon a time I was a "Forty Under Forty." It wasn't a Forbes or Fortune or Inc. list (okay, it was the Baton Rouge Business Report) but still...

It made me feel good, briefly bolstered my self-esteem, made me feel that my future was ... you know ...in the future.

Lieutenant Governor Mitch Landrieu hosted the World Cultural Economic Forum (WCEF) and the Louisiana Cultural Economy Summit (LCES) in New Orleans October 29-30. Several hundred delegates from more than 25 countries participated in the two events.

From the early eighties through the nineties, I spent the majority of my professional life working on innovation and technology development in Louisiana. When I left in 1999 to work at Southern Growth Policies Board, all of that work seemed very much like unfinished business.

An entrepreneur will receive the P.G.A.'s Distinguished Service Award (its highest honor) on Wednesday, August 12 in Minneapolis. His name is Bill Powell; his achievements are profiled in The New York Times of August 9. Returning from service in World War II, the great-grandson of slaves decided to build a golf course in East Canton, Ohio.

Richard Florida, with his degrees in urban planning and his best-sellers, is a lover of cities. Big cities. Bigger cities. Mega regions!

 An essay in the print edition of The Economist takes on the performance of economists during the months and years leading up to the financial crisis.

 Fort Polk is an economic engine critical not only to Central Louisiana's vitality, it is one of the most important economic contributors to the entire state. Our ability to take full advantage of its potential is dependent of the relationship between the military installation and the communities near it. That makes an upcoming event more than worthy of Cenla's attention.

August 26, 2009: Ralph McGill, the late editor of the Atlanta Constitution, writing in 1963 (and quoted by Bronwen Dickey in the Oxford American). McGill was trying to explain the South to a Roman:

First, I should say that I have never been a big fan of Entrepreneur magazine. It's been around for a while and I have always thought it was the least inspired offering in this sometimes crowded field. CAP has the remains of a subscription to it, and I usually ignore it when it arrives.

Boston.com and other news sources are reporting that President Obama will announce $12 billion in new funding for the nation's community colleges. According to an advance copy of his speech, the President will announce the American Graduation Initiative.

  "Sandy, the fireworks are hailing over Little Eden tonight," sings Bruce Springsteen about the most American of holidays. I watched the fireworks hailing over Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, Arkansas from the deck of my sister's condo last night.