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February 18, 2008

ULM and LSBDC to thank legislators for their support of new incubator Feb. 21

In recognition of federal funding that has been approved for the new Northeast Louisiana Business and Community Development Center, a news conference will be held Thursday, Feb. 21 at 5:30 p.m. in the media room, located on the sixth floor of the ULM Library.

The University of Louisiana at Monroe College of Business Administration and the Louisiana Small Business Development Center--partners in the new business incubator--will publicly thank U.S. Rep. Rodney Alexander and Sen. Mary Landrieu for their assistance in securing $450,000 for this project. Alexander will present a check for $450,000 dollars to the College of Business Administration. Landrieu will be represented at the event, which will last about 15 minutes.

The new center, which will be housed on ULM’s campus, will advance entrepreneurship and support economic development by developing a regional business incubator and by offering community development services. The center will focus on entrepreneurship; ULM experts will share their knowledge and resources with rural communities, they will nurture entrepreneurs, they will help grow businesses, and they will enhance the economic vitality of the northeast Louisiana region, said CBA Dean Ron Berry. Community leaders and elected officials will learn about budgeting, strategic planning, marketing, risk management, contingency planning, and accessing community development information.

“Our hope is that our community will soon enjoy new businesses and new jobs through the innovations of this new center,” Berry said.

Entrepreneurial development is critical to the success of our region, said ULM President James Cofer.

“We know that ULM, one of the largest employers in the region, significantly impacts our economy in northeast Louisiana,” he said. “This new center allows our university experts to share their expertise and their resources with our community. That kind of outreach—education--is economic development.

We are adding to Louisiana’s economic pool by investing in our citizens.”

For more information, e-mail Berry at rberry@ulm.edu.

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