Southwest Louisiana – “2021 was another year of challenges for our region.  At the Chamber and the Alliance Foundation we were kept on task due to the steady leadership from last year’s Chair, Jim Giffin. While we were unable to show our appreciation to Mr. Giffin at our Annual Banquet due to quarantine precautions, we were happy that we got this chance to property thank Mr. Giffin for his service to the Chamber SWLA Board and the Southwest Louisiana business community as a whole,” said Chamber SWLA / SWLA Economic Development Alliance President and CEO George Swift.

2021 Chair Jim Giffin is a financial advisor with Edward Jones. He has been a long-term member of the Chamber SWLA and active Board Member serving two full terms on the Board before his Chairmanship. (Pictured in the center receiving a plaque of appreciation from 2022 Chair Kay Fox on the left and Chamber SWLA President & CEO George Swift on the right.) 

2022 Chair Kay Fox is the Vice President of Marketing and Member Services for Beauregard Electric Cooperative (BECI) in DeRidder. She started on the Board in 2020 and quickly became an admired and active member of the Board. 

Last year was another one for the record books.  Despite all the challenges The Chamber and Alliance Foundation had a strong year of accomplishments: 

• We continued to push for federal recovery dollars
• There was major progress on the I-10 Bridge, thanks to our I-10 Bridge Task Force.
• We supported a successful legislative agenda with pro-business results and a successful LegisGator event in December
• We actively participated in the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury long term recovery plan
• Despite COVID, we continued our successful Leadership SWLA program
• We were also fortunate that is was a good year for industrial projects:
  • Canfor is opening a state-of-the-art lumber Mill on the Beauregard Airport certified site
  • Intefor will re-open the old Georgia Pacific lumber mill in DeQuincy
  • A $21 Rice Mill announced at Lacassane
• And we ended the year with Venture Global announcing a 2^nd LNG facility in Cameron Parish…over $10 billion 

Even after the two hurricanes of 2020 and COVID, we maintained our strong membership. We have 1200 members which makes us one of the largest chambers in the state making us the regional Voice For Business.