The SWLA Alliance is comprised of The Chamber SWLA, The SWLA Alliance Foundation, and The Business Incubator of SWLA. Each organization has goals that were developed and approved by the Board of Directors over the last four months which are reflected in the 2023-2024 Strategic Plan. 

The Chamber SWLA has over 1,200 members and is the “Voice For Business”. 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. The Business Incubator of Southwest Louisiana is the place for entrepreneurship and additional support is needed for more resources.

Improving Quality of Life for our region is another focus. One important aspect to improving our area is to clean up and pick up litter from homes, businesses and vacant property. Litter is a major deterrent to civic pride and is like holding up a sign that says “we don’t care.” The Chamber SWLA has become a part of Keep Louisiana Beautiful and we encourage all businesses and individuals to clean up your area this week, “Love the Boot Week.” Our Alliance staff will be picking up litter Wednesday along Ryan Street from Sale to McNeese Street including around the SEED Center. 

This week is also “Pick It Up Spring Clean-up” from the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury. Adopt-a-spot or report litter, but get involved. Another aspect is to get more businesses involved in the “Just Imagine SWLA” effort spearheaded by The Community Foundation of SWLA. There are ten major projects that will lead to a better life for us and future generations. 

Economic Development means different things to different people. Our vision is to attract good paying jobs and create opportunity so our five parish region will be attractive to today's and future generations. For example, our region will tie into the green economy and its jobs with H2-The Future. Our Economic Team at the Alliance markets our region worldwide to seek new industry and we work with existing companies to assist them in growth and challenges.

A major issue for every business and industry is the lack of qualified workers. There are least two jobs available for every person seeking employment. Our Education and Workforce Committee represents various sectors of our economy including educational institutions like the parish school systems, McNeese, and SOWELA. We want to identify areas of need so that educators can prepare our workforce.

So, the four major focus areas of the Alliance two year strategic plan are Quality of Life, Governmental Affairs and Infrastructure, Education and Workforce, and Economic Development. There are many offshoots of these four major goal areas. The Alliance staff and over 200 volunteers will be working for a positive result of a better quality of life and more opportunity, so that all in our five parish region can look back with pride as we took adversity and made our five parishes a region of choice for todays and
future generations.