The McNeese Foundation announced the honorary naming of the Southwest Louisiana Entrepreneurial and Economic Development (SEED) Center in recognition of a $1 million endowment from the Henning family. New signage reflecting the new Henning SEED Center was unveiled at a reception celebrating this milestone today. 

The Henning donation will be used to create a perpetual endowment, with the annual interest dedicated to support the Louisiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC) at McNeese State University, located in the SEED Center. Since 1983, the LSBDC at McNeese has been assisting new and existing business owners in Southwest Louisiana from idea conception to profitable business ventures.

“This addition of the Henning name to the SEED Center is an appropriate honor for this family who has played a prominent role in the Southwest Louisiana business community since the 1920s,” said Dr. Wade Rousse, President of McNeese State University. “The Henning SEED Center will continue to provide services that help small businesses in SWLA grow and thrive now and for generations to come.”

The Henning family has a long history of entrepreneurship across Southwest Louisiana, and it’s in recognition of this legacy, specifically the entrepreneurial spirit of their grandfather W.T. Henning, that brothers William “Dub” Henning Jr., John Henning and Tom Henning, made the decision to fund create this endowment.

“The challenges of starting a business are part of our family history,” says Dub. “When our grandfather ran a telephone line from the Hackberry oil fields to Sulphur in 1928, he started out like most entrepreneurs—with an idea and the willingness to work hard, even though he had fight through the marshes of Cameron to make it happen, and that’s how Cameron Telephone Company was founded. Our father continued what our grandfather started and expanded into other areas. All three of us have continued their tradition of entrepreneurship and experienced the challenges that go along with starting a business, even with our family background. We recognize that not everyone starting out has that kind of support, which is why we are partnering with the McNeese Foundation for this endowment. We’ve seen the work done by the LSBDC at McNeese to help local small businesses succeed and we are excited to provide new funding to enable even more businesses to benefit from their resources.”

The SEED Center first opened its doors in 2013, marking a significant milestone in the region’s growth by consolidating multiple economic development entities under one roof on the McNeese campus. It was established through a joint venture by McNeese State University, the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, the City of Lake Charles, and the Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance.

Today, the Henning SEED Center serves as a hub for fostering entrepreneurship and economic development in the five-parish region, housing regional organizations such as the SWLA Alliance, the IMCAL Regional Planning Commission, Lake Area Industry Alliance, the Business Incubator of Southwest Louisiana and the Louisiana Small Business Development Center. The executive offices of McNeese State University are also now located in the SEED Center, signifying the university’s deeper integration into the region’s economic development framework. 

“We are proud to add our family’s name to the SEED Center in support of its mission of driving economic development and supporting entrepreneurial endeavors in Southwest Louisiana,” adds Dub. “It’s a uniquely fitting tribute to our grandfather and the seeds of entrepreneurship he planted in both our family and our community.”

To request a business consultation or register for training at the LSBDC at McNeese, call 337-475-5529 or visit www.louisianasbdc.org/lsbdc-at-mcneese-state-university.