Apathy. According to the dictionary that means lack of interest, or concern. Sometimes apathy is a symptom of a larger issue we’re facing, like trauma, grief, or an underlying mental health condition. It could be the heat. Considering what
our region has encountered in the last several years that would be understandable.

Viable communities and organizations cannot thrive in an environment of indifference.

To say cybersecurity is a top-level concern for small businesses is an understatement.

     Here are some statistics that are sobering:

• 46 percent of all cyber breaches impact businesses with fewer than 1,000 employees.
• 61 percent of small businesses were the target of a cyberattack in 2021.
• At 18 percent, malware is the most common type of cyberattack aimed at small businesses.
• 37 percent of companies hit by ransomeware had fewer than 100 employees.
• Employees of small businesses experience 350 percent more social engineering attacks than those at larger enterprises.

There are generational changes taking place in the production and usage of energy and Southwest Louisiana is poised to be one of the major players in our nation and the world.

Conditions beyond our control are making our economic outlook appear to be cooling down. Rising interest rates and recession fears could keep a cap on investment in the large, capital-intensive projects that drive the construction sector.

A lot of time is spent encouraging potential and current small business owners to make sure they have a comprehensive business plan, the correct business structure, registered their business, obtained the necessary licenses and permits, opened a business bank account, and purchased insurance.

     What happens after all those tasks are fulfilled?

     Well, the business owner must start making money.

     With that comes the task of hiring employees.

We want:

• People interested in starting a business, or in the early phases of their venture.
• People who are committed to their dream.
• People who have a business concept and willing to create a business plan if they do not have one.
• People who are coachable.
• People who will dedicate time to meetings to learn.
• People who will be hungry to grow their network.
• People who will dive into learning management, human resources, business law, marketing/public relations, and finance concepts.
• People who are comfortable, being uncomfortable!

Southwest Louisiana is known as the epicenter of the petrochemical industry. But did you know that the region is poised to be at the forefront of the green energy revolution?

Whether it is wind, solar, or carbon capture the region is attracting national and international interest in constructing projects that could change the trajectory of how we produce and consume energy.

Businesses large and small that are interested in collecting and interpreting data in order to create improved outputs should pay attention to the work being done by Picasso Analytics in Lake Charles.

One of the major issues facing employers across the nation is the recruitment and retention of qualified workers. Every business and industry sector is looking for talent.

Jacqueline Higginbotham recalls the feeling she had after assisting several area residents apply for and receive a home loan, only to see the buyers go into foreclosure.

“I had worked at the city (Lake Charles) for 15 years assisting with down payments and closing cost assistance through community development programs. The people who experienced foreclosure were not prepared to sustain.

"That tugged at my heart to see people work hard for something and lose it. They were paper ready, but not mind ready. As a result, I wanted to help people,” Higginbotham said.

Last week was National Economic Development Week.

It’s good to reflect on this annually, but for us at The SWLA Economic Development Alliance, it’s our focus every day and every week. Many folks ask what is involved in growing our economy. There are many facets. The foundation of it all is regionalism.
Our service area is the five parishes of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jeff Davis. Without strong bonds among the cities and parishes, we cannot fully prosper. Our workforce comes from throughout our region and our trade area is basically the 310,000 people in our five parishes. No one town or parish can be competitive standing alone. So the Alliance stands for unity and regionalism.

Small Business Month was birthed by the United States Small Business Administration (SBA). Initially, the agency promoted small business week, but over time the designation was extended to the whole month nationwide.

We all take this time to celebrate the work, innovation, and spirit of small business owners. Without this group of businesses, the country would suffer from a lack of job opportunities, loss of commerce, and more importantly, the example of people living the American Dream.

A community can have a significant impact on the quality of life of its residents. From promoting physical and mental health to providing economic opportunities, a thriving community can create an environment in which people can flourish. In this article, we will explore some of the ways in which a community can improve the quality of life of its members.

The Chamber SWLA has as one of its major area goals, a Legislative agenda that we will support in the Louisiana legislative session now underway. We will advocate for sensible tax reform that does not put the state and its institutions
like McNeese and SOWELA in financial jeopardy. We support early childhood education and the 3rd grade reading bill in an effort to get our young prepared for a successful education outcome. Priorities include broadband for areas without adequate service, dredging of the Calcasieu River Ship Channel to support the Port of Lake Charles, and more. We continue to advocate for a new I-10 Calcasieu River Bridge and the procurement process is underway. We support legislation to help keep insurance coverage available and make it more affordable.

With the end of the first quarter of 2023 upon us, now is the perfect opportunity to review what the Alliance/Chamber SWLA Economic Development team has been doing in the five parish area.

The Southwest Louisiana transformation story is a powerful one and it’s the cornerstone of our message to site selectors and industrial prospects around the world. 

When Bailey Thibodeaux completed her formal education, she figured the road to future career success would start with a job.

The 26-year-old Lake Charles native realized that her strategy needed to be tweaked.

“I started applying for jobs and had a couple of interviews but nothing worked out initially. Then I got a job (2020). The day I was supposed to start, the hurricane hit,” she explained.

The new $10.8 million dollar Culinary, Gaming, and Hospitality Training Center officially opened last week at SOWELA Technical Community College. Governor John Bel Edwards said this state-of-the-art Hospitality and Tourism Center is a
shining example of world-class career training provided by the Louisiana Technical and Community College System.

The business start-up world is not for the faint of heart. Anyone considering the life of owning a business needs to be applauded.

A person must invest vast amounts of time, planning, financing, marketing, managing, etc. in order to make thought become a business reality.

Positivity and confidence are paramount traits that a person or group considering entrepreneurship needs to possess or at least have a grasp of also.

Here at the SEED Center Business Incubator, numerous people visit or reach out to us looking for assistance to get started or to find ways to solve long-standing problems within their enterprises.

Whether residential, commercial, or industrial, personnel in construction are in great demand. Most everybody you talk with is looking for people with construction skills. Today, however, it’s not just hammers and nails needed.

So, you have a legal business entity that is recognized by the appropriate authorities, and a tax identification to boot.

     Your business has a name, logo, and even a location.

     Now all that is missing is revenue, and that will be generated by clients.

     How do you get these most important elements in the free enterprise universe?

     Marketing!

On a recent Chamber SWLA mission to our nation’s Capital, we saw first-hand that the Louisiana Congressional Delegation is growing in seniority and influence.

 What is a business incubator?

Before the definition of an incubator is shared, it may be helpful to lay a foundation of understanding about the whole economic development ecosystem that academics and professionals attempt to create for the public.

First, consider the umbrella term referred to as entrepreneurship centers according to the International Business Incubator Association (INBIA).

These types of centers are located all over the world and each is geared toward driving economic development and job creation.

The New Year should be prosperous for Southwest Louisiana. As rebuilding and recovery efforts continue, retail sales should be strong especially building materials, appliances, furniture and construction. New retail and restaurants are coming in ’23. Increased interest rates may slow housing sales but prices of houses may decrease some to help offset higher interest rates. There is still a need for additional housing in our area, both single and multi-family, so we expect construction to continue.

The SWLA economy is diversified with petrochemical, LNG, healthcare, agriculture and forestry, gaming & hospitality, and aviation. While The Alliance always seeks to bring new industry sectors to our region, it’s important to reflect on our strong
industrial base which creates thousands of jobs. One sector key to our area’s future is aerospace. At Chennault International Airport, over one thousand folks are working every day, providing for their families and our nation’s aviation needs.

The impact of small businesses is often overlooked but when combined, they have tremendous financial force in sales and employment. These mostly locally-owned businesses form the fabric of each community where they are located. According to the Small Business Administration there are approximately 32.5 million small businesses which employ 61.7 million people. That is 47.5 percent of all jobs in this country. These are your neighbors and people you know who support our schools, sports teams and churches. 

Allow this to serve as my introduction and give my impressions of Southwest Louisiana since joining the Alliance in April of this year. As Vice President of Economic Development for the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance, it’s my job to promote economic opportunities for all in our five parishes of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron and Jeff Davis.

As for my impressions of Southwest Louisiana, I have learned that the region’s people are tough, resilient, and hardworking. They make contributions to our local, state, national, and international economies.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month and a good time for businesses and other organizations to take stock of their accessibility to those who are disabled. As one who has relied on a wheelchair or a scooter the last several years as a result of diabetes, I have come not only to appreciate but also rely on accessibility to businesses, offices, transportation, and institutions.

Business and workforce development opportunities abound in Southwest Louisiana.

What is even more impressive is that our five-parish area has the chance to diversify its economic climate with new business sectors that pave the way for entrepreneurs. Technology and innovation are the driving force for the cur-rent and future economy. Local businesses and agencies are encouraged to investigate ways to engage in new technology enterprises that will keep the region on the cutting edge of national and international business trends.

In spite of the many weather events and the worldwide pandemic that impacted our region in a negative way, the people of Southwest Louisiana have proved they are resilient as we continue to recover and look toward the future. We have seen unprecedented growth in the past
decade due to the over $45 billion invested by industrial businesses in this region. Don’t take that for granted. These completed projects have created over 15,000 permanent jobs and further strengthened our industrial base which is helping us to recover.

The good news is that we have nearly twice that amount in potential projects that will be investing in the future.

 Last week, the United States Small Business Administration’s Regional Administrator (SBA) for the South Central Region Ted James visited the SEED Center to share insights on agency operations and outreach efforts.