Volume 16
March 2010
UPPER LAFAYETTE ON THE MOVE…. GATEWAY BEAUTIFICATION PROJECT MOVING ALONG!
Upcoming Events Meetings for 2010 March 17, 11:30 a.m. at LEDA Speaker: Steve Oubre, architect May 19, 11:30 a.m. July 21, 11:30 a.m. September 15, 11:30 a.m. November 17, 11:30 a.m.
UPPER LAFAYETTE BOUNDARIES
Thanks to the generosity of Apache Corporation, Upper Lafayette’s University Ave. Exit at I-10 is a more welcoming place! On February 19, 2010, 100 red and white crepe myrtles trees donated by Apache were planted at various locations on N. University Avenue. This on-going effort would not be possible without the support of our local legislative delegation, Lafayette City-Parish President Joey Durel, DOTD’s Bill Fontenot, UL at Lafayette’s President Joseph Savoie and Professor Jim Foret, along with many others. Although we are depicted with shovels in hand, the actual expense of planting was underwritten by McDonald’s of Acadiana, and carried out by Chris Broussard and crew. ULEDF is grateful for the cooperation of so many good people who help make our community a great place! Pictured are ULL President Joseph Savoie; Apache’s Jerry Bordelon and Shannon Savoy; Horticulture Professor Jim Foret; mural artist Robert Dafford; ULEDF’s Jan Swift; and LCG Parish President Joey Durel.
ULEDF TV SHOW FEATURES COMMUNITY LEADERS ULEDF’s television show, “Upper Lafayette, On the Move!” is now playing on Acadiana Open Channel (Cox 15 and LUS Fiber 3). New shows premiere at 7:00 p.m. on the first and third Wednesday of each month. Delta Media has generously opened its studio and provided production support for the show. Filming is underwritten by Acadian Ambulance Service, Acadiana Computer Systems, McDonald’s of Acadiana, Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, Schilling Distributing Company and VALOR Commercial Real Estate. Since the show’s inception, Jan Swift has interviewed various elected officials and civic-minded people who love our community and work to make Upper Lafayette and all of Lafayette Parish the best it can be. Please tune in: our shows get great air time due to the generosity of Ed Bowie and the staff at AOC. It will also air on KLFT THIS TV owned by Delta Media. Pictured are Dr. Ross Judice, Ed Krampe, Tom Cox, Jan Swift and Dr. Joby John in a photo taken at our January 2010 meeting, which is currently airing on AOC.
Letter from the President : Dr. Ross Judice, Acadian Ambulance ULEDF Board of Directors & Staff Dr. Ross Judice, President Ed Krampe, V. President Adrian Baudoin, Sec/Treas. Todd Citron, Past Pres. Don Dupuis Andre Moreau Beau Phares Dwight Prudhomme Dwight “Bo” Ramsay Herbert Schilling Monty Warren Jan Swift, Director
Over the years I have watched with curiosity how everyone is so critical of LSU football when they fall short of our very high expectations. Case in point: LSU is coming off a 9-3 regular season record and the local paper headline this week reads, "LSU Spring Football: Miles Era at a Crossroads." The article goes on to say that LSU is coming off a "mediocre season" and Coach Miles' job is "on the line". Even beyond this article, I've noticed that we have VERY HIGH expectations for LSU's football team: we expect top performances every year. My question is this: where are our expectations for the rest of the things that we care about in our community? Shouldn't we have the same (or greater?) high expectations for quality of life and economic indicators than we do for our football team? While we embark on conversations about de-consolidation, technical high schools, roads, and healthcare, let's set our expectations for ourselves at least as high as those we have for our sporting teams. The good news is that Lafayette has a marvelous university, a great community college, and an active business community. We have dedicated elected officials, an active arts scene, the #1 healthiest citizens in Acadiana, and two intersecting interstates. Most importantly, we have gumbo! We are so lucky: like being first and goal on the 5 yard line. Let's each of us pull together and get into the end zone.
UPPER LAFAYETTE ON THE MOVE…. Healthcare Classic Golf Tournament to be held at Farm d’Allie May 17, 2010 The Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic Foundation is hosting the Healthcare Classic Golf Tournament on May 17, 2010 at The Farm d’Allie golf course at 1235 Beau Bassin Road in Carencro. Proceeds from this event support the operations of the Lafayette Community Health Care Clinic, a non-profit organization that provides free quality outpatient health and dental care for the working uninsured and develops and provides programs to address community health care needs through collaborative partnerships. ULEDF members who have supported the clinic include Acadian Ambulance Service, Acadiana Computer Systems, Inc., Aries Marine Corporation, BBR Creative, Joey Durel, Home Bank, Lowry’s Printing and Copying, Dr. and Mrs. Don McConnell, Our Lady of Lourdes Regional Medical Center, and McDonald’s of Acadiana. In 2009, the clinic provided medical and dental exams, nutritional counseling, lab/x-ray and consulting specialist referrals and eye exams valued at $712,660. Additionally, 15,820 community pharmacy prescriptions were dispensed at a value of $987,647 during the same time period. LCHCC provides free prescriptions to qualified uninsured applicants in Acadiana. Donors will be recognized in the event program, newsletter and annual report and donations are tax-deductable. Please contact Babette Werner at (337)258-6411 or bvwerner@cox.net or Donna Delahoussaye, Event Chair, at (337)296-4822 or ddelahoussaye@oncologics.net if you are interested in a participating or need more information.
ECGC Women’s Business Center Supports Entrepreneurs! Attention entrepreneurs! The Enterprise Consortium of the Gulf Coast Women’s Business Center (“WBC”), located at 110 Travis St., Suite 92, provides training assistance and support needed to start and grow a business. The Center, under the leadership of Director Amy Belgard, is a non-profit organization serving the 8 parish area of Acadiana. Funded by a federal Small Business Administration grant, the WBC offers services at no cost and operates off donations and matching funds from the Acadiana Regional Development District. The WBC can help you with strategic planning, procurement guidance, marketing, business plan development, and other start-up guidance. Amy was very careful to point out that they work in tandem with LEDA and the Small Business Development Center’s Mark Galyean, so that overlap of services is avoided. If you are contemplating a start-up business or need assistance getting a business going, please call ULEDF’s newest member, ECGC Women’s Business Center at (337)889-0211 or visit www.ecgcwbc.com.
ULEDF MEETING TO FEATURE STEVEN OUBRE—ARCHITECTS SOUTHWEST Please plan to attend our March 17, 2010 meeting, 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., to be held at LEDA, 211 E. Devalcourt St., to hear Steven Oubre, Architects Southwest, talk about the importance of community planning. Steve speaks from a position of experience in planned developments, as well as genuine concern for the future of our community. Guests are always welcome and encouraged. The cost for lunch is $10.00. Please rsvp to jan@upperlafayette.com or call (337)572-9877 Ext. 108. Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation is an association of proactive individuals and business leaders, joined together to be a catalyst for change. The Foundation’s mission is to enhance and direct the positive, planned growth of Upper Lafayette, focusing on quality of life, while participating in the overall development of the Greater Lafayette Metropolitan Area. Contact jan@upperlafayette.com or visit www.upperlafayette.com for more information.
Special Thanks To Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation Members: PLATINUM Acadian Ambulance Service Acadiana Computer Systems, Inc. Acadiana Rubber & Gasket Aries Marine Corporation ASH/Badger Oil Company Bizzuka Home Furniture Hub City Ford, Inc. IberiaBank McDonald’s of Acadiana MidSouth Bank Our Lady of Lourdes Republic National Distributing Company Schilling Distributing Company Stevens RV Center Whitney Bank
Volume 16 Page 2
GOLD
BRONZE
Atmos Energy Home Bank VALOR Commercial Real Estate
Acadiana C.A.R.E.S Acadian Hills Country Club Joey Durel ECGC Women’s Business Center Edward Jones/Bob Crist Horace Guidry Lafayette Convention & Visitors Bureau LeBlanc’s Auto Wholesale/Richard LeBlanc Lee Verret/State Farm Insurance Agency Michelle Leder The Lolley Group Lowry’s Printing and Copying Flo Meadows Melancon I-49 Storage Center Poche Prouet & Associates Ron J. Gaubert Realtors Ken Simeral SLEMCO Buddy Webb/Rayne State Bank
SILVER Accel Protection & Technologies Allstates Building Systems Anytime Fitness Aspen Clinic Associated Travel Group BBR Creative Hallmark Jewelers Master Builders & Specialists, Inc. Dr. and Mrs. Don McConnell Mello Joy Steven Santillo, APLC Stirling Properties Terry J. Rogers, LTD Walters Funeral Home
Printed by Lafayette Economic Development Authority