The Louisiana Department of Economic Development (LED) is moving forward with the creation of a Business Retention and Expansion (BRE) Group that will focus solely on addressing the challenges and opportunities of Louisiana’s existing employers.
“While attracting new businesses to our state is important, it is critical that we also help our existing employers that already have shown their commitment to Louisiana,” said Gov. Bobby Jindal. “With the creation of this new initiative, we are sending a strong message to Louisiana businesses that they are our first priority, not our second priority, in economic development.”
“The vast majority of new job growth, as well as 100 percent of potential job losses, will come from the businesses already located in Louisiana. Too often we have taken these companies for granted, with relatively little focus on understanding and addressing their needs,” said LED Secretary Stephen Moret. “The creation of a dedicated business retention and expansion team within LED indicates the priority that this administration places on supporting our existing employers. Working to protect our existing jobs has become even more important in light of current economic conditions at the national level.”
Initially consisting of three new full-time staff members, LED’s BRE Group will proactively develop and maintain close relationships with Louisiana’s top employers and will aggressively manage business retention and expansion projects.
The BRE Group also will partner with regional and local economic development organizations, as well as small business development centers, to develop a comprehensive business retention and expansion program for small- and medium-sized businesses.
Recommended public policy changes and other business-climate improvements from businesses contacted by state business retention and expansion efforts will be incorporated into state economic development plans.
LED recruited two economic development veterans to serve as director and assistant director for the BRE Group. Tommy Kurtz will serve as the BRE Group’s director and Kristi Lumpkin will serve as its assistant director.
Kurtz and Lumpkin will start at LED in early December. A third staff member for the group will be selected in the near future.
Source: Louisiana Department of Economic Development, www.louisianaforward.com/
Topics Louisiana New Markets
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