| Hwy 210& Legion St.; Lake Charles, LA 70601 AREA: Airport/Sowela Technical College |
| 04/25/2006 24 Months |
| Current Status |
Effective Date |
Comments |
| Included in Recovery Plan |
04/07/2006 |
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The nature of a business incubator is to diversify the economic base of an area. Moreover, by housing the established regional economic development organizations in the same facility, it will produce an atmosphere conducive to a diversity of economic business concepts. Because of the creative energy surrounding the various economic development organizations and business incubator, this center will inculcate a powerful entrepreneurial climate. The incubator, home for new, small businesses, is nationally recognized as a forum for creating large numbers of diverse entrepreneurial opportunities. Due to the entrepreneurial resources being housed in one location those businesses that suffered damage and or loss due to Hurricane Rita may discover new opportunities to open businesses or the tools to assist them in rebuilding businesses lost. Many Small Businesses are unable to meet their overhead costs in the first few years and the incubator by providing minimal rent costs will enable these Small Businesses to grow and expand as they need to in order to become a viable part of this business region.
This facility will house the principal organizations and critical programs for economic regeneration of the Southwest Louisiana region. Offices will be constructed within the facility to house The Southwest Louisiana Chamber of Commerce (the Chamber) and the Southwest Louisiana Partnership for Economic Development(the Partnership). Finished office space to be utilized as the Business Incubator, as well as half of the facility being dedicated to the Nursing Education Center. This facility is also supported by and may be used by McNeese University Small Business Office and Sowela Technical College for training and research. The facility would serve the five parishes of Allen, Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, and Jeff Davis.
Because of all the creative energy surrounding the various economic development organizations and business incubator, this center will inculcate a powerful entrepreneurial climate. The incubator, home for new, small businesses, is nationally recognized as a forum for creating large numbers of diverse entrepreneurial opportunities. This concept is visionary as it allows the Region of SWLA to consolidate all Economic Development Functions in a State-Of-The-Art, High-Profile, One-Stop Center and will provide necessary Services to encourage Entrepreneurship and grow the SWLA economy. In early 2005, seven entities came together to begin a "mini incubator" in the same building as the SWLA Partnership, which serves as manager and land lord. The coalition is comprised of: IMCAL, Sowela, McNeese Small Business Development, City of Lake Charles, Calcasieu Parish Police Jury, The Chamber SWLA, and the SWLA Partnership. This one year trial has proven the need for the facility and the ability of these organizations to work together. Post Rita, there is more need for low cost office space for survival threatened companies and start up companies many of which will be re-locating from storm ravaged areas. The need for this facility is even greater today to help the business community recover to an acceptable level, grow and prosper.
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