JANUARY – MARCH 2015
BR A C ’ S R E P OR T ON T HE CR E AT I V E C A P I TA L A GEND A
brac.org
55
12
190
10
A CLOSER LOOK AT
Livingston Parish
Leading for Econ om ic A n n o u n ce m e n t s i n t h e F i r s t Qu ar t e r
Certified Sites
Accelerating site selection
2015 Annual
Shareholders’ Meeting
And More...
Our progress, project wins, and a
word from BRAC’s president and CEO
FROM THE DESK OF
Adam Knapp
A
s you know, the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) is in the
business of economic development. And I’m pleased to report
that business is good. The region’s strong performance in 2014
continues in 2015 and the outlook for growth remains positive.
At the annual shareholders’ meeting in March, BRAC reported $58 million in
annual payroll from 1,104 new jobs in 2014, outpacing an annual goal of $57
million. For the fifth consecutive year, Site Selection ranked the Baton Rouge
Area within the top ten – and, for 2014, in second place – in the United
States among major metropolitan areas for the number of deals that located
within the metro in 2014. The Capital Region further distinguished itself as
the only Louisiana region to earn any of the top ten distinctions for the year.
Moreover, the region achieved a watermark in exceeding 400,000 nonfarm
jobs for the first time.
Within this issue, you’ll read about business development activity from the
first quarter and, undoubtedly, you’ll notice a recurring theme of success in
Livingston Parish. As a regional economic development organization (EDO),
BRAC works in close partnership with other EDOs. You’ll learn more about
our long-standing relationship with the Livingston Economic Development
Council and hear from its outgoing president and CEO, Randy Rogers.
In addition to project wins, BRAC captured headlines in the first quarter
for national leadership in the public policy arena and, specifically, in
coordinating grassroots opposition to the Environmental Protection
Agency’s proposed changes to ground-level ozone standards. Through
its Economic Competitiveness department, BRAC released a Public Policy
Commentary outlining the correlation between the economically topperforming metro areas in the nation and new regulations proposed by the
Obama administration. The report concluded that eighteen of the twenty
top-performing metropolitan economies are at risk from the new ozone
standards. The Public Policy Commentary was picked up by news outlets
across the country, including The Washington Examiner as well as American
City Business Journals.
With transportation infrastructure as a major area of focus for 2015, BRAC
joined with regional chambers and EDOs across the country to call upon
Congress to pass a long-term federal transportation authorization bill to
restore stability to regional transportation funding – an issue that will be
hotly debated during the 2015 Regular Legislative Session.
And while the state budget and its implications to health care and higher
education dominate discussion, we remain optimistic about our
region’s competitiveness.
Enjoy the read.
Adam Knapp,
President and CEO, Baton Rouge Area Chamber
I’m pleased
to report that
business is good.
The region’s strong
performance in
2014 continues
in 2015 and the
outlook for growth
remains positive.
C A T A LY S T
(kat’l ist) n.
Something that initiates or
causes an important event
to happen 55
12
A person or thing that
precipitates an event
or change
See also energy,
momentum, trailblazer,
Baton Rouge Area Chamber
190
10
8 Cover Story
Our Economy:
Update and Outlook
The latest trends in the
Capital Region economy
Our Progress:
Measuring Our Success
A report on BRAC’s activities from
January through March 2015
Project Wins
Cover Story:
Livingston Parish
Certified Sites
Development-ready industrial sites
accelerate site selection
2015 Annual
Shareholders’ Meeting
Economic Development Investors
Leading organizations funding The Creative
Capital Agenda
ECON OMY
Update Outlook
OUR
and
2
C ATA LY S T
Total nonfarm employment was 399,500
at the end of March, with 25,700 more
jobs than in March 2014.
The unemployment rate of 5.6 percent matches the national rate.
Regional spending continued to be strong, with sales tax collections
up 13 percent over the year in March. Home sales prices increased
6 percent compared to March 2014. Stock prices were mixed, with
some of the regionally based public companies experiencing gains.
Baton Rouge Area
Employment and
Unemployment
Employment // Nonfarm Payrolls
Unemployment // Job Seekers
(Thousands)*
2014/15 EMPLOYMENT
80
400
70
390
2013/14 EMPLOYMENT
380
60
370
50
360
40
2013/14 UNEMPLOYMENT
350
2014/15 UNEMPLOYMENT
30
340
20
330
10
320
0
310
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
Baton Rouge Area
Regional Spending
($ Millions)*
SEPT
OCT
NOV
East Feliciana,
Pointe Coupee, St.
Helena, West Baton
Rouge, and West
Feliciana Parishes
DEC
JAN
FEB
MAR
Iberville Parish
Ascension Parish
Livingston Parish
East Baton
Rouge Parish
1,600
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
APR
MAY
JUN
JUL
AUG
SEPT
2014
OCT
NOV
DEC
JAN
FEB
2015
*Employment and unemployment figures are preliminary estimates; all employment estimates reflect current revisions
Source: Louisiana Workforce Commission; BRAC analysis
MAR
Economic Vital Signs
Jobs
Nonfarm payrolls, Mar ’15
399,500
Unemployed, Mar ’15
23,600
Strong
Jobs up 8,100 over Mar ’14
Stable/Mixed
Decline
Unemployment rate at 5.6%; matches U.S.
average of 5.6%
Home Sales
Unemployment
Insurance Claims
Initial claims per week
Weeks claimed per week
337
2,709
$210,480
Average home price
755
Units sold per month
Prices have increased 6% from Jan – Mar ’14
Units sold have increased 7% from Jan – Mar ’14
Initial claims down 3% from Jan – Mar ’14
Weeks claimed down 11% from Jan – Mar ’14
Local HQ
Stock Performance
Residential
Building Permits
Single-family
Price change from Jan – Mar ’15:
424
0
Multi-family Total permits have decreased 5% compared to
Jan – Mar ’14
ALB:
-6.01%
AMED:
6.74%
LAMR:
8.39%
HEES: -13.82%
CRWS:
8.20%
Stock price performance has been mixed
Single-family permits have decreased 2%
compared to Jan – Mar ’14
Energy Costs
Regional Spending
Henry Hub natural gas
Sales & use taxes, Mar ’15
Total sales, Mar ’15
$49.61/barrel
WTI crude oil spot
$2.83/MM Btu
$111.7 M
$2.23 B
Sales tax collections as a region have increased
13% over Mar ’14
Total regional sales have increased 18% over
Mar ’14
Crude oil spots down $45.68/barrel from Jan – Mar ’14
Gas price down $2.07/MMBtu from
Jan – Mar ’14 levels
Source(s): Bureau of Labor Statistics; U.S. Census Bureau (New Residential
Construction); Greater Baton Rouge Association of REALTORS®; Local sales
tax offices; Yahoo! Finance; LSU Center for Energy Studies; BRAC analysis
JAN-MAR 2015
3
OUR
P RO G RE S S
MEASURING
OUR SUCCESS
The Creative Capital Agenda is composed of six strategies that together drive economic
development in the Baton Rouge Area. Each issue of Catalyst features an update on the progress
of each of these six strategies, as well as a preview of upcoming goals and activities.
Summary of Business Development Prospect Activity
PROJECT COUNT
Current Count
TYPE
Change
from Jan 1
JOB COUNT (ESTIMATES)
Current Count
Change
from Jan 1
2015
Project Wins
(to March 31)
3
+3 793+793
Prospects: Class A
5
-1
483
-179
Prospects: Class B
22
-3
4,270
+986
Prospects: TOTAL
27
-4
4,753 +807
PROSPECTS: CLASS A
PROSPECTS: CLASS B
Project is at a 70 percent probability or greater. Leases or
Project is at a 30-60 percent probability. The prospect
contracts have been negotiated, incentive agreements
has visited the region, put the area on a short list of sites,
have been completed, and the company is in control of a
and begun the process of achieving site control. Other
site and planning for an announcement. At this point, the
agreements, such as permits and incentives, may be
company has spent significant resources in controlling a
in negotiation.
site and is preparing to develop within the region.
4
C ATA LY S T
STR ATEGY
STR ATEGY
1
2
Job Creation
From January to March, 793 total new jobs were announced, with a total capital investment of
$71.3 million. BRAC’s business retention and expansion team met with fifty-one companies in
the region.
International Development
BRAC, GNO, Inc., and Louisiana Economic Development (LED) are preparing for a Super Region
business development mission to Germany in June. The objective is to leverage the ACHEMA 2015
conference focus on chemical engineering, environmental protection, biotechnology, and related
commercial/industrial activities. The Super Region is working collaboratively to develop leads,
cultivate projects, and position the Mississippi River Corridor top-of-mind for future projects.
In January 2015, the UK ambassador to the United States led a multidisciplinary delegation to
commemorate the beginning of 200 years of peace among nations – i.e., the anniversary of
the Battle of New Orleans. BRAC worked with the United Kingdom Trade and Investment (UKTI)
Team and Consul General Andrew Millar to meet companies and set the stage for future business
delegation visits. Further, some coordination began for BRAC’s participation in UKTI events at the
Offshore Technology Conference in Houston, May 4-6.
The Canadian trade commissioner with jurisdiction for Louisiana visited on March 25. The
Consulate/Trade Commission (based in Dallas) has expressed renewed interest in cultivating
business ties between Louisiana and Canada. Plans for multiple business delegations to explore
trade and investment opportunities are underway for the next twenty-four months. With BRAC’s
long-standing relationship with that office, the region should be well positioned to take advantage
of this opportunity.
S TRATEGY
3
Entrepreneurship and Innovation
With support from BRAC, in March, the Public Affairs Research Council (PAR) published a report entitled
Innovation in Louisiana: Maximizing Investment in University Research to Promote a KnowledgeBased Economy. The PAR report expounds upon a report published by BRAC in 2009 and includes
updated research on university technology transfer. BRAC reviewed and provided input into the PAR
report, which details the importance of innovation in Louisiana with emphasis on university technology
transfer and research and development. PAR concludes that industry and higher education must come
together to bring about a better environment for innovation. BRAC appreciates the connection between
university-based innovation and regional economic development, and the evolution of the economy as
increasingly knowledge based.
ST RATE GY
4
Global Branding
BRAC’s Economic Competitiveness and Marketing departments released nationally a public policy
commentary on the proposed changes to ozone standards by the EPA. The commentary pointed
out that all but two of the nation’s top twenty metropolitan area economies, as ranked by the
Brookings Institution’s assessment of performance through recession and recovery, would fall into
“ozone nonattainment” status if the Obama administration moves forward with its more aggressive
regulatory plans for air quality. The commentary was released nationally, with a focus in the eighteen
markets that would be impacted.
JAN-MAR 2015
5
OUR
P RO G RE S S
STR ATEGY
5
Talent Development
In March, the Talent Development department partnered with MESH | Integrated Marketing &
Advertising to launch a six-week awareness campaign for LIVEcapitalized.com, focusing on social
media and television ads. The ads will appear on WAFB, WBRZ, and Cox. The campaign includes
Facebook ads and promoted posts to increase social media engagement and drive opt-ins to the
email distribution list.
STR ATEGY
6
Regional Competitiveness
BRAC has been advocating for improvements to the East Baton Rouge Parish School System
(EBRPSS) and recently saw Warren Drake, former superintendent of the best-performing school
district in the state, elected as the new superintendent of EBRPSS.
BRAC has been instrumental in leading a pilot for workplace experiences for students and
teachers, securing externships for sixteen teachers from four Capital Region districts, and
opportunities for students to interact with professionals in the industries of construction craft,
health care, and process technology.
BRAC staff have partnered with the Greater Baton Rouge Industry Alliance and the Center for
Planning Excellence to form a first-of-its-kind, business-led, regional transportation coalition.
This coalition – the Capital Region Industry for Sustainable Infrastructure Solutions (CRISIS) –
is bringing together some of the Capital Region’s largest employers and most prominent
business leaders to address the traffic choke points and widespread congestion that are
hindering economic development throughout the Baton Rouge Area. CRISIS will identify specific
infrastructure solutions, advocating for data-driven decision making and prioritization, and provide
a unified voice on our region’s transportation needs at the state level.
As part of its new policy focus, BRAC’s Small Business Council (SBC) has discussed BRAC’s 2015
legislative strategy, met with the state director of the National Federation of Independent Business
(NFIB) to discuss its advocacy efforts at the state and national level, and spoken with Jan Cassidy
from the Division of Administration regarding the state’s small business procurement outreach efforts.
Currently, the SBC is working with Dave “Lefty” Lefkowith, assistant superintendent of the Louisiana
Department of Education, to assist in the creation of a micro-enterprise Jump Start credential aimed
at helping students become excellent small business employees and entrepreneurs.
BRAC’s Economic
Development Partners
•Ascension Economic Development Corporation
•Office of the Mayor-President, City of Baton Rouge/Parish of East Baton Rouge
•East Feliciana Economic Development District
•Iberville Chamber of Commerce
•Livingston Economic Development Council
•Greater Pointe Coupee Chamber of Commerce
•St. Helena Parish Economic Development Committee
•West Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce
•West Feliciana Parish
6
C ATA LY S T
JANUARY – MARCH 2015
PROJECT WINS
USA Rail Terminals
43 jobs, $10 MM capital investment
USA Rail Terminals, LLC is developing a premier rail facility and industrial park in West Baton Rouge Parish. The
facility – the only one of its kind in the Baton Rouge Area – will have the capability to manage the movement of
single car loads, as well as complete unit train shipments, rail car storage, and trans-loading and switching services. It
will have capacity to store in excess of 5,000 rail cars.
“We are very excited to become part of the Greater Baton Rouge business community. Our decision to come to this
area was based on the very apparent need for a rail terminal that could supply the local industries with specialized
services and provide build-to-suit lease-back opportunities. USA Rail Terminals has the capabilities to accept
manifest or unit train service. We look forward to serving the surrounding industry and its transportation needs,”
said Steve Roth, executive vice president of USA Rail Terminals, LLC.
EPIC Piping
560 jobs, $45.3 MM capital investment
EPIC Piping will open a new pipe fabrication facility and corporate headquarters in Livingston Parish. The
200,000-square-foot facility will be an air-conditioned workspace on a seventy-acre site. The project was a result of
a regional partnership between BRAC, LEDC, Livingston officials, and the state.
“Our new state-of-the-art, air-conditioned manufacturing facility will be the first of its kind built anywhere. We
are committed to providing quality, high-paying jobs to this region, and we would like to thank our state and local
economic development partners for making this possible. We chose this location because of the quality workforce
available and the accessibility for our products and future growth. As we expand and continue to grow, Louisiana
was the perfect place to double down to make that possible,” said EPIC Piping President Kent Shepherd.
Martin Brower
30 jobs, 160 retained jobs,
$16 MM capital investment
The Martin-Brower Company, LLC (Martin Brower), a food distribution facility, will relocate to the Livingston Industrial
Park in Walker. The new, state-of-the-art, eco-friendly facility will bring enhanced equipment and technology
to assist employees in executing operations, improve efficiencies to customers, and help reduce the overall
environmental impact. The move and expansion will retain 160 jobs and create thirty new direct jobs. The new
location is a site certified by BRAC through LED’s Certified Sites program.
“We’re proud to be joining and supporting such a great community and an already vibrant economic presence in
the Livingston Parish area. We look forward to making a positive contribution as a world-class employer, a strong
business partner, and an active contributor in our local community,” said general manager of Louisiana operations
for The Martin-Brower Company, LLC, Larry Daigle.
JAN-MAR 2015
7
LIVINGSTON
PARISH
Leading for Economic announcements in the first quarter
It comes as no surprise that economic growth in the Capital Region
in 2015 is being led by Livingston Parish. The parish has been in the
headlines for the last several years for a variety of reasons, including
its top-ranked schools, population growth, business expansions,
and much more.
Two of BRAC’s three project wins in the first quarter
were announced in Livingston Parish – EPIC Piping
and Martin Brower. These two companies will create
a total of 590 new jobs and over $56 million in capital
investments. Approximately 758 indirect jobs and over
535 construction jobs will be created from these
two expansions.
The parish boasts many assets that make it a prime
location for corporate expansion and relocation.
Livingston offers easy access to both Interstates 10 and
55, linking the parish with major interstate routes, and
U.S. Highway 190 provides an alternate route parallel
to Interstate 12. The Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport
is only fifteen miles away and New Orleans’ Louis
Armstrong International Airport is just eighty miles away.
The parish is twenty miles from the Port of Greater
Baton Rouge and ninety miles from the Port of New
Orleans. Canadian National Rail has a main line that
serves the Livingston Industrial Park and transverses
Livingston Parish. The parish also has two electric utility
providers, Entergy and Demco, and a number of natural
gas distributors and pipelines.
The parish has consistently been recognized for topranked schools. In BRAC’s recent Education Report
8
C ATA LY S T
Card for the 2013-2014 school year, Livingston Parish
public schools received an A rating, a full letter grade
improvement from the previous school year; posted the
highest overall gain in the region; and was one of the
top ten districts in the state, ranking number nine.
In addition to working closely with BRAC, the Livingston
Parish Economic Development Council (LEDC), along
with Livingston Parish elected officials and business
leaders, work tirelessly to attract and retain businesses
within the Parish. LEDC understands the importance of
recruitment and retention for a thriving economy.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the population of
Livingston Parish is estimated to have grown 5.5 percent
since 2010. This is the second-highest rate of growth
in Louisiana. In February 2015, home sales in the parish
were up 15.7 percent.
Each parish in the nine-parish Capital Region provides
unique assets that contribute materially to the economic
development success of the region. With the recent
project announcements, the spotlight is on Livingston
Parish. Its unique combination of assets and resources
have made this part of the region a leader in 2015.
Livingston Parish is continuing to
BATON ROUGE METROPOLITAN AIRPORT
NEW ORLEANS LOUIS ARMSTRONG
INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
see an impressive expansion of
the parish’s population, workforce,
and business community. The
population growth, an excellent
INTERSTATES 10, 12 & 55
U.S. HIGHWAY 190
public school system, a highly
trained workforce, the expansion
of the I-12 corridor, the expansion
of utility infrastructure, affordable
available sites, and pro-business
PORT OF GREATER BATON ROUGE
PORT OF NEW ORLEANS
leadership have helped spur
the rapid rate of economic
development activity across the
parish. The manufacturing, health
ENTERGY & DEMCO
care, real estate and construction,
retail, and professional service
sectors, as well as others, are
all participating in our success
and growth. With the recent
CANADIAN NATIONAL RAIL
announcements of new facilities
by these sectors, the long-term
outlook for growth in Livingston
Parish is impressively strong. The
HOME SALES UP 15.7%
number of new businesses looking
to locate in Livingston Parish has
never been greater. The LEDC is
proud to have played a role in our
POPULATION GROWTH OF 5.5%,
SECOND HIGHEST IN LOUISIANA
economic growth and values our
strong partnership with BRAC.
Randy Rogers
TOP-RANKED SCHOOLS
Outgoing President and CEO,
Livingston Parish Economic
Development Council (LEDC)
JAN-MAR 2015
9
Capital Region Leads the State in
CERTIFIED
SITES
C
ertified sites are development-ready industrial
or manufacturing sites that have undergone
rigorous review of site characteristics. The certified
sites program enables companies and site selectors to
validate or eliminate a property from consideration more
expeditiously. Understanding the importance of certified
sites in attracting new business to the region and retaining
existing companies, BRAC established an initial goal of certifying eight new sites per year to
make the Capital Region a more attractive place to do business. At the end of first quarter 2015,
the Capital Region had nineteen of forty-three of Louisiana’s certified sites. At press time, BRAC
had submitted an additional seven sites*, bringing the total number of sites within the Capital
Region to twenty-six, or fifty-two percent of all sites certified in Louisiana. This distinction
provides the Baton Rouge Area a significant competitive advantage.
Through the site certification process, specific
site details, such as zoning restrictions, title work,
environmental studies, soils analysis, and surveys
are assessed for compliance and suitability. These
sites are presented regularly to potential companies
and consultants considering the region, and receive
significant attention from potential buyers because
much of the “homework” is done already.
A certified site has utilities and infrastructure in place
or approved engineering plans to provide the utility
infrastructure within 180 days. In the past, Louisiana
lost new deals to other states because companies
require their relocation or expansion projects to be
operational as quickly as possible, making certified
sites more attractive. Traditional sites often take
comparatively longer to prepare for construction.
In 2010, Louisiana Economic Development (LED)
launched the LED Certified Sites program to identify
and prepare information on property so companies
can quickly and easily evaluate the merits of
particular sites.
BRAC works closely with landowners, regional
partners, utility companies, and qualified
vendors to perform the significant amount
of due diligence required in order to
pursue site certification.
To learn more about the certified
sites in the Capital Region or if you
have property that may qualify for
certification, visit
brac.org/certifiedsites.
*Editor’s note: Seven sites are pending approval through the LED site certification process.
10
C ATA LY S T
1
Shreveport
2
Monroe
Bossier City
4
5
3
35
7
6
Alexandria
8
9
Lake Charles
Lafayette
10 11
12
13
28
17
14
38
15
27
16 18
29
26
43
19
3031
20 Baton Rouge
32
36 37 42 21
33
40 41 39
34
23
New
Orleans
22
24
25
1.
Ward II Industrial Park
15. New Roads Industrial Park
31. River Chase
2.
1-20 Greenwood Road
16. Pointe Coupee Power Park
3.
North Whittington Site
17. Record Industrial Park
32. John F. Smith Memorial
Business Park
4.
Millhaven Plantation
5.
Charleston Industrial Park
18. Baton Rouge Aviation
Business Park
6.
England Airpark Heavy
Industrial Site E1
7.
England Airpark Heavy
Industrial Site W1
8.
Bunkie Industrial Park
9.
Evangeline Ward One
Industrial Park
10. Chennault Southwest Site
11. Industrial Park East
12. Deere Park
13. Pointe Coupee Parish
Port Industrial Park
14. Kent Site
19. Allstar Site
20. Sugarcane Site
21. LSU Innovation Park
22. Donaldsonville Industrial Park
23. Pointe Sunshine
24. GlobalPlex
25. Williams Memorial Airport
Business Park
26. Tower Drive
27. Airport Plaza
33. Summit Fremaux Technology
& Business Park
34. Rigolets Estates PUD
Commercial
35. Natchitoches Parish Port
36. Grace Farms West
37. Grace Farms East
38. NRG Industrial Park
39. Gateway II Industrial Site
40. Iberville Industrial &
Technology Park Site
41. Waterloo Site
28. Franklinton Industrial Park
42. Dow Louisiana
Operations West
29. Conrad Anderson
43. Livingston Industrial Park Site
30. Nord du Lac
JAN-MAR 2015
11
2015 ANNUAL SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETING
On March 24, approximately 500 investors and guests gathered to celebrate the economic successes of 2014 at
the 2015 Annual Shareholders’ Meeting: All That Jazz at L’auberge Casino Hotel. The event featured special guest
John Elstrott, chairman of Whole Foods Market Inc., who shared his forty years of experience as a career entrepreneur.
BRAC President and CEO Adam Knapp presented highlights from 2014, including business development wins, great
strides in innovation and entrepreneurship, and global branding. Offering a preview of BRAC’s 2015 priorities, Knapp
highlighted job creation, transportation infrastructure, and a robust gubernatorial agenda. During the celebration,
BRAC conferred several awards for service recognition.
Volunteer of the Year – Pamela Bounds, Berente Companies
D. Jensen Holliday Award – Patricia “Patty” McMurray, Adams and Reese,
LLP, and 2014 chair of BRAC’s Education Issue Council and BRAC board’s
general counsel
The D. Jensen Holliday Award is presented to a member of the BRAC Board of Directors for
extraordinary leadership and exemplary service to BRAC. Individuals honored with the award
demonstrate selfless service to the economic growth of the Baton Rouge Area.
Community Champion Award –
Ben Miller, Jr., co-founder of Kean Miller, LLP
The Community Champion Award was conferred posthumously to Ben Miller, Jr. BRAC
presents a Community Champion Award annually to an individual for outstanding
contributions to his or her company and above-and-beyond leadership in the community.
Recipients also demonstrate leadership, visionary thinking, and extraordinary volunteerism.
Mr. Miller’s widow, Bettsie Miller, accepted the award in his honor amid an audience ovation.
Project of the Year – Pod Pack International
BRAC’s Project of the Year Award is presented to an economic development project win
that positions the Capital Region at the next level through job creation, capital expenditures,
expansion of an industry sector, and long-term impact on the regional economy and brand.
Pod Pack was recognized for its 2014 announcement of a $10.1 million expansion of its
manufacturing facility, nearly doubling its staff and generating $600,000 in new payroll. Pod
Pack is a co-packer of coffee and tea products, packaging products in individual pods.
12
C ATA LY S T
ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT
T H E
C R E A T I V E
Investors
C A P I T A L
A G E N D A
2 0 1 1 - 2 0 1 5
INNOVATOR COUNCIL
POLICY COUNCIL
(Five-year total pledge of at least $1,000,000)
(Five-year total pledge of at least $50,000)
East Baton Rouge Mortgage Finance Authority
Associated Grocers • Belle of Baton Rouge Casino • Cajun
Industries LLC • Faulk & Winkler LLC • GMFS Lending • Hannis
T. Bourgeois LLP • Hollingsworth Richards Automotive Group •
Investar Bank • LaPorte CPAs & Business Advisors • McGlinchey
Stafford PLLC • Neighbors Federal Credit Union • Postlethwaite
& Netterville • Prime Occupational Medicine • SGS Petroleum
Services • SJB Group LLC • Starmount Life Insurance Company •
State Farm Insurance • Stirling Properties • Team Automotive
Group • Teknarus
ANNUAL INVESTMENT OF $200,000+
CHAIRMAN’S COUNCIL
ANNUAL INVESTMENT OF $100,000+
(Five-year total pledge of at least $500,000)
All Star Automotive Group • Baton Rouge Area Foundation/
Commercial Properties Realty Trust • Credit Bureau of Baton Rouge
Foundation • ExxonMobil • Guaranty Group • Louisiana State
University System • Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center
EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
ANNUAL INVESTMENT OF $50,000+
(Five-year total pledge of at least $250,000)
Adams & Reese LLP • Baton Rouge Coca-Cola Bottling
Company • Baton Rouge General Medical Center • Blue Cross
and Blue Shield of Louisiana • Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson LLP •
Capital One Bank • Clear Channel Media+Entertainment • Cox
Communications • CSRS, Inc. • DEMCO/CLECO • Dow Chemical
Company • Economic Development Partnership Fund • Entergy •
G.E.C. Inc. • Greater Baton Rouge Business Report • Jones Walker
LLP • JPMorgan Chase • Kean Miller LLP • LUBA Workers’ Comp •
Ochsner Health Center Baton Rouge/Ochsner Medical Center
Baton Rouge • Phelps Dunbar LLP • Regions Bank • Research Park
Corporation • Taylor, Porter, Brooks & Phillips LLP • The Advocate •
Turner Industries Group • WAFB • WBRZ • Whitney Bank
AMBASSADOR COUNCIL
ANNUAL INVESTMENT OF $25,000+
(Five-year total pledge of at least $125,000)
Albemarle Corporation • Amedisys, Inc. • Baton Rouge Water
Company • Brookwood Properties LLC • D. Honoré Construction,
Inc. • EATEL/Sunshine Media • Greater Baton Rouge Association of
REALTORS© • Hollywood Casino • Iberia Bank • Kiewit Louisiana
Co. • L’auberge Casino & Hotel Baton Rouge • The Lamar
Corporation • Launch Media • LCTA Workers’ Comp • MAPP
Construction LLC • NIA Latter and Blum • NRG Energy • Object 9 •
Performance Contractors • Professional Service Industries, Inc. •
Stone Pigman Walther Wittmann LLC • Stupp Corporation •
Woman’s Hospital • Wright Feigley Communications
CORPORATE COUNCIL
ANNUAL INVESTMENT OF $10,000+
SUPPORTING INVESTOR
ANNUAL INVESTMENT OF $4,000+
(Five-year total pledge of at least $20,000)
ABB-KTEK • Acme Refrigeration of Baton Rouge, Inc. •
Airtrol, Inc. • Armstrong Relocation • Ascension Economic
Development Corporation • BancorpSouth Insurance Services/
Wright & Percy • BASF Global • Baton Rouge Telco Federal
Credit Union • Beau Box Real Estate • Benny’s Car Wash • Brock
Services, Ltd. • Brown Claims Management Group • Business
First Bank • Campus Federal Credit Union • The Celtic Group •
CH2M Hill • Chenevert Architects • Cintas • Community Coffee
Company • Cornerstone Government Affairs • Edgen Murray
Corporation • EMCO Technologies • Felder’s Collision Parts,
Inc. • Formosa Plastics • Forte and Tablada, Inc. • Grace and
Hebert • Gulf Coast BIDCO • Hearin Properties - PODS • Hotel
Indigo • H.R. Solutions LLC • Hunt Guillot & Associates, LLC •
ISC Constructors LLC • Kenny Neal • KPMG LLP • Kurz & Hebert
Commercial Real Estate, Inc. • La Capitol Federal Credit Union •
Last In Concepts • Lee Michaels Fine Jewelry • Lipsey’s • Lofton
Staffing Services • Louisiana Office Supply Co. • Louisiana Radio
Network • Lyons Specialty Company • Mary Bird Perkins Cancer
Center • Massengale Grounds Management, Inc. • Olinde’s
Furniture/Baton Rouge Beer Agency • Piccadilly Restaurants •
+ One Design/Construction • Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers •
Republic Services/Allied Waste • Roedel Parsons Koch Blache
Balhoff & McCollister • SSA Consultants • Star Service •
Stonehenge Capital Company • Surgical Specialty Center •
TOPCOR Companies LLC • Wampold Companies • Waskey
Bridges • WHLC Architecture
BRAC also receives significant funding support from Louisiana
Economic Development (LED) and the City of Baton Rouge/
Parish of East Baton Rouge
ANNUAL INVESTMENT OF $15,000+
(Five-year total pledge of at least $75,000)
Atmos Energy • AT&T • Barber Brothers Contracting Co./Waterloo
Operations • CB&I • Axiall Chemicals & Vinyls LLC • Lard Oil
Company • Magellan Behavioral Health Services in Louisiana •
Manda Fine Meats • Milton J. Womack, Inc. • Orion Instruments •
SCI Research • Sparkhound
JAN-MAR 2015
13
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