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.