Chamber News Today!

2/14/2017

The Southwest Louisiana

Economic Development Alliance Newsletter

Business After Hours Has a New Address!

Join us for next week's Business After Hours at The Center for Orthopaedics

co-sponsored by CHRISTUS St. Patrick Hospital!

Bring a co-worker or a friend for some fun networking over beverages and appetizers.

Chamber members pay only $1 at the door!

RSVP to Cheryl Roberson at croberson@allianceswla.org.

Last week's Ribbon Cuttings

Lake Charles Ward 3 Recreation hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for a new natatorium to be built at its Power Centre Multi-Sports Complex, located at 3210 Power Centre Parkway in Lake Charles. The natatorium will host youth swim meets and other water programs. The facility will operate under the supervision of Ward 3 Recreation. Construction is expected to last 13 months and is being funded through a bond proposition, which was passed by Ward 3 voters in 2014.

Oma's Classic Children's Clothing, located at 3830 Nelson Road in Lake Charles, carries classic children's clothing for girls in sizes preemie-14 and boys in sizes preemie-8.They also carry unique gift items and much more. They are especially excited to offer hospital delivery service! If someone you know is having a baby, show them you are thinking about them by sending one of Oma's storks with a special gift all wrapped up in precious paper! For more information visit www.omasclassics.com

Lake Charles Ward 3 Recreation also hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Alvin Dark Baseball Stadium (formerly Legion Field), following recent renovations to the stadium located near the intersection of second avenue and fifth street in Lake Charles. The mid-town stadium now hosts high school baseball and summer baseball leagues. The renovation project was also funded through the 2014 bond proposition.

Cricket Wireless celebrated the completion of store renovations at their 3202 Gerstner Memorial Blvd. At Cricket, there are no overage charges for calls, texts, or data. After you use your high-speed data allowance, speeds will be reduced, but you won't be charged extra. For more information about Cricket, visit www.cricketwireless.com.

Are you ready to EXPO?

It will take place at the Lake Charles Civic Center on March 23.

Click here to register online or rates and other information.

We are also looking for this year's

Small Business of the Year

We are looking for a company that has a substantiated history as an established business, a g rowth in number of employees, innovative products/services offered, and or contributed to community-oriented projects.

For more information on the award (including the entry form), click here.

For more information about either the award or the EXPO, contact Michelle McInnis at mmcinnis@allianceswla.org.

KUDOS!

Lake Charles Television, LLC announced today that Lake Charles, Louisiana will be home to the first CBS Television Network affiliate in the market, slated to begin broadcasting on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 . Viewers can watch "CBS Lake Charles" over the air on Channel 17, broadcasting in full 1080i High Definition, and soon to be available on DISH, DirecTV and cable provider Suddenlink. Previously, the fast-growing community of Lake Charles has been served by the outside markets of Lafayette and Beaumont. The station will be headquartered at 129 West Prien Lake Road. For more information, please contact Louis Wall, at (706) 922.5644.

Entergy Louisiana has formed a corporate partnership with Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana. With a donation of $5,000, they will partner with BBBS-SWLA in their vision to ensure all children achieve success in life. All the funds donated are invested locally into the mentoring programs run by BBBS-SWLA that impact children and families in the Southwest Louisiana community. They will also look for ways throughout the year to participate in the various activities and programs that BBBS-SWLA provides.

Pictured: Anthony "Chip" Arnould, Entergy's Sr. Region Manager; Heather Hohensee, Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southwest Louisiana.

Member of the Week

Everything You Need to Know About the Alliance

All Chamber members and Foundation investors are invited to the February Member Orientation. This lunch program will help you understand more about the role the chamber has in our community.

Tuesday, February 21
12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
The SEED Center
4310 Ryan Street, Lake Charles
2nd Floor Meeting Room
RSVP to Paula Ramsey at pramsey@allianceswla.org.

Who are you? Really?

Discover your DiSC management style and learn how to adapt your style to manage, motivate, direct and develop others based on their own DiSC style. DiSC is the leading personal assessment tool used by over 1 million people every year to improve work productivity, teamwork, and communication.

DiSC profiles help you and your team figure out:

how you respond to conflict
what motivates you
what causes you stress
how you solve problems
facilitate better teamwork
minimize team conflict

Training will be available on March 9 from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Admission is $75 or $50 for Chamber SWLA members.

Call (337) 433-0977 for more information. To register online, click here.

Pre-registration is required by 2/20 in order for all participants to have their pre-assessment filled out prior to the event.

New Members

Chairman's Circle

Preferred Members

Cricket Wireless

Business Members

AARP Louisiana
Armor Title Company, LLC
Farmer's Merchant's Bank & Trust Company

Featured Event:

Looking for a great opportunity for a team building event for your business or organization while supporting a great local community cause? Network, Socialize & Bowl at

Bowl For Kids' Sake, the largest annual fundraiser for BBBS-SWLA.

With over 1,000 participants last year, Bowl For Kids' Sake puts the FUN back in fundraising! The community raises tens of thousands of dollars that allow BBBS-SWLA to continue to serve the children of Southwest Loui siana community.

To enroll your bowling-fundraising team, visit www.bbbs-swla.kintera.org/bfks2017 or call Sally McPherson at 478-5437, extension 114.

Click here for the February 14

Community Calendar

Ribbon Cuttings

Christus St Patrick's John and Sylvia Stelly Regional Heart Center

Monday, February 20 @ 2 p.m.
Christus St. Patrick Hospital, 2nd Floor
524 Dr. Michael DeBakey Drive

Lake Charles

Function 4 -Formerly Star Graphics
Wednesday, February 22 @ 11:30 a.m.

803 W Bayou Pines Suite B,

Lake Charles

Economic Development Summit Announced

The Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance is teaming up with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) and other regional economic development organizations to host the second annual Statewide Economic Development Summit presented by Entergy will be held on Tuesday, April 11.

The Summit will take place at the Crowne Plaza Executive Center in Baton Rouge from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m., and will feature keynote presentations by Governor John Bel Edwards, Greg Burkart of Duff & Phelps, Roberto Gallardo, Ph.D., of Mississippi State University Extension, and Secretary of Louisiana Economic Development Don Pierson. The event lineup will also include additional presentations and panels.

The regional economic development organizations convening the Summit include:

Baton Rouge Area Chamber
Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance
Greater New Orleans, Inc.
Lafayette Economic Development Authority
One Acadiana
North Louisiana Economic Partnership
Northeast Louisiana Economic Alliance
South Louisiana Economic Council
Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance

Event registration is available at brac.org/edsummit . Registration, which includes continental breakfast and lunch, is $90. Discounted room rates at the Crowne Plaza of $99 are available for event attendees; call 225-930-1030 and use the group code BRA.

Additional event information, including the full event agenda, will be released at brac.org/edsummit as available.

Do you have the next great idea?

Workforce Training Scholarships Available

The Alliance and the Alcoa Foundation are accepting applications for scholarships to be given to individuals interested in receiving training necessary to apply for jobs in support of the economic expansion in the Southwest Louisiana region.

For more information on this program contact Michelle McInnis, Regional Business and Workforce Development Director, at mmcinnis@allianceswla.org or ( 337) 433-3632 ext. 1206.

(337) 433-3632
www.allianceswla.org