Louisiana Association of Business & Industry: Building Main Street

BUILDING MAIN STREET A WHOLE NEW HEADQUARTERS MEANS A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME FOR THE STATE’S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

THE NEW ADDRESS FOR DOING

BUSINESS IN LOUISIANA FIFTH AND MAIN

F

OR NEARLY 45 YEARS, the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry has served as the connector between its 2,200 members and the state leaders crafting policy that affects them. And now, in the spring of 2020, LABI will serve as the physical connector – not only members to policy makers, but members to members.

In a deal that closed in July of 2017, LABI sold the 30,000-square-foot building on Valley Creek Drive that housed its statewide headquarters since 1983, and shortly thereafter purchased the downtown building at 500 Main Street from the Commercial Properties Realty Trust, which it began renovating in September.

LABI has spent the last year gathering input and developing a plan for what will become LABI’s Center for Free Enterprise; a new facility that will be a center of gravity for the statewide business community and instill a new era of collaboration, professional development and civic engagement for our members. A committee of LABI members selected the architecture firm of Eskew Dumez Ripple to design the renovation, with Faulk and Meek as contractor to perform the work.

THE PLANNED RENOVATIONS INCLUDE: A multi-function, stateof-the-art Conference Center on the ground floor with modular components that can shift to accommodate a range of events and functions, with seating capacity up to 150.

Conference rooms and office space for individuals and LABI members across the state looking for a quiet place to work, meet or conduct business while in town.

A professional kitchen and outdoor entertaining space with catering capability for events.

A top-of-the-line professional recording studio, allowing LABI to be on the front lines of tech shaping the political and digital environment for generations to come.

“500 MAIN STREET

‌ is a game-changer for LABI as a member organization as well as our efforts to promote free enterprise in Louisiana. Not only will we be steps from the State Capitol, allowing our policy experts and members better access to decision makers throughout the executive and legislative branch, but this space will truly serve as a gathering place for the more than 2,200 businesses we represent across the state. With this facility, we will introduce regular programming to bring our members continuing education opportunities, policy discussions, guest speakers, networking events and our investors will have a welcoming place to conduct their own business while in Baton Rouge. In short, this collaborative space will become one of the best state chamber facilities in the country and modernize how Louisiana’s business community can collaborate with partners across the state. Our members have long wanted a space to help them feed off the energy and ideas of their colleagues from all parts of Louisiana, and this facility will soon provide that gathering spot on a daily basis. This evolution of our facilities is critical as we move our organization forward and continue to advocate for reforms for the betterment of Louisiana.”

LABI President & CEO Stephen Waguespack Speaking at the 500 Main Street WallBreaking in September.

LABI represents 2,200 businesses large and small, who collectively employ more than 320,000 Louisiana workers.

To learn more about how we help job creators and how we can help you, visit labi.org.

IN SEPTEMBER, LABI GATHERED WITH MEMBERS AND DOWNTOWN BATON ROUGE LEADERS, INCLUDING MAYOR SHARON WESTON BROOME, TO MARK THE BEGINNING OF RENOVATIONS WITH A “WALLBREAKING” AT 500 MAIN STREET, WHERE THEY TORE THROUGH IMAGES OF LABI’S OLD HEADQUARTERS TO REVEAL RENDERINGS OF THE COMPLETED PROJECT.

Performance people

From the Ground Up.

www.performance-br.com

The people at Performance Contractors are the backbone of our industrial economy. Men and women across the country making an honest living doing an honest day’s work. They’re supporting their families and are striving to make American life even better for their kids. It’s a big job and we are proud to be a part of it. People are our most important asset and we are humbled by their hard work and dedication to making America the best ever.

261 Hood Road Sulphur, LA 70665 (337) 558-7440

PC 041019 1012 Magazine April 2019.indd 1

7516 Highway 63 Moss Point, MS 39562 (228) 285-7900

ALABAMA

808 Memorial Fwy. Suite 734 Nederland, TX 77627 (281) 478-4009

MISSISSIPPI

9901 Performance Way Baton Rouge, LA 70810 (225) 751-4156

TEXAS

LOUISIANA

A seasoned General Industrial Contractor, Performance Contractors has offices across the Gulf South and operates pipe fabrication facilities in Texas, Louisiana x2, and Alabama.

8093 Padgett Switch Road Irvington, AL 36544 (251) 957-0800

27002 Hwy. 288 Rosharon, TX 77583 (832) 241-4400

4/10/19 2:33 PM

CENTER FOR FREE ENTERPRISE MULTI-FUNCTION CONFERENCE CENTER A Flexible Events Space to Meet Your Needs

NOW BOOKING MEETINGS AND EVENTS FOR 2020 CONTACT CLAIRE SHIRLEY CLAIREK@LABI.ORG

HB-GNARLY-TEN12-8.875x10.875.pdf

C

1

9/26/19

4:58 PM

IT STARTS AT HOME. THE BUSINESS OF BREWING

M

WATCH FULL VIDEO AT HOME24BANK.COM

Y

CM

MY

CY

CMY

K

THE GNARLY BARLEY STORY Before it became one of the fastest growing microbreweries in the country, Gnarly Barley Brewing was located in the garage of owners Zac and Cari Caramonta. Zac’s skills at selecting the perfect ingredients and creating unique brews was more than a hobby; it was his passion.

From home brew to shiny tanks and a full-time crew at their plant in Hammond, La., the Gnarly Barley brand grew, with a little help from Home Bank.

Our bankers saw the passion the Caramontas had for their product and the potential they had for growth. Supporting local business owners and helping their dreams become a reality is what makes us Home Bank. We're good for business, good for life.

Watch more of the Gnarly Barley story online and see the brewing process in action at Home24Bank.com.

Good for business. Good for life.

Home24Bank.com 40 Locations Across South Louisiana and Western Mississippi

DON’T MISS OUT!

ANNUAL MEETING 2020

JOIN US FEBRUARY 11, 2020

LABI’S

ANNUAL MEETING brings together the top leaders in business, government, education and the community for innovative and thought-provoking conversations.

FOR QUESTIONS OR SPONSORSHIP INFORMATION, please contact Elena Lacour at elena@labi.org or 225-215-6647.

AND DON’T FORGET OUR MEMBER AND LEGISLATOR VIP RECEPTION THE EVENING BEFORE!

M O N D AY, F E B R U A R Y 1 0 , 2 0 2 0

TO VIEW ALL UPCOMING LABI EVENTS, VISIT LABI.ORG

DID YOU KNOW?

LABI.ORG

THE LABI BENEFITS CENTER provides employers of all sizes access to an a la carte menu of

employee benefits and administrative tools that are among the best in the market today - all in one central location at a special discounted rate for LABI members. It simply makes your job easier.

WHAT CAN THE LABI BENEFITS CENTER DO FOR YOUR BUSINESS? The LABI Benefits Center offers the best way to find health care coverage, ancillary insurances, HR and compliance support tools you need based on your business size, budget and employees’ needs.

Customized options are provided through an easy-to-follow webbased platform, where you can conveniently view a full set of products and services to assist you in running your business more efficiently and profitably.

You will also be able to offer your employees best-in-class insurance and non-insurance offerings whether sponsored by you, their employer, or individually chosen.

“Through LABI’s Benefits Center, we’ve certainly reduced our costs using discounts available to LABI members, but our biggest savings is time. when it comes to HR and payroll, the userfriendly, streamlined administration of the tool allows us to handle enrollment or termination with a simple click of a button. it’s an extremely valuable resource for us as employers that we wouldn’t have access to if not for LABI.” -STEPHANIE RITTER - DEXCOMM, CARENCRO, LA

WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD On behalf of the entire b1BANK family, we welcome LABI to downtown Baton Rouge. We’re excited to help the local and state economy grow together as neighbors!

BE UNCOMPLICATED b1BANK.com

Local Presence.

National Impact.

Did you know that since 1952, the employees of Stupp have produced tens of thousands of miles of pipe that deliver the energy needed to power our everyday lives?

From the natural gas that provides electricity to our homes and businesses, to the crude oil refined into fuel for our vehicles, and the natural gas liquids that become the plastics we use in just about everything—pipelines help make possible the standard of living that Americans enjoy.

To learn more about Stupp’s role in the development of our nation’s energy infrastructure, our operations in Baton Rouge, or opportunities at the company, please visit stuppcorp.com.

Oil

Natural Gas

Liquids

CO2

Products

The graphic above represents just some of the major projects that Stupp has supplied. In the past five years alone, we’ve made enough pipe to stretch from Portland, Oregon, to Portland, Maine and back!

Jacobs Field Services is now Worley

OUR WORLD JUST GOT BIGGER

worley.com

Thanks For another amazing year. Our success is only possible because of your success.

LABI Company of the Year Consulting Magazine Fastest-Growing Consulting Firms in the World Inc. 5000 Fastest-Growing Private Companies in America LSU 100 Fastest-Growing Tiger Business

EMERGENTMETHOD.COM

NEW TO THE BENEFITS CENTER

MEDICARE OPTIONS THROUGH BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF LOUISIANA With today’s employees working longer, Medicare options are critical to employers now more than ever. LABI’s Benefits Center now offers Medicare options through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Louisiana, including:

Retiree Benefits Medicare Supplement Medicare Advantage This is another example of how our offerings are constantly adapting to our members’ real-time workforce needs. Our plan consultants at Associated Benefits are happy to work with your broker or directly with you to identify the options that best fit your budget and workforce needs.

For more information, visit www.labi.org

“LABI and Associated Benefits Consulting (ABC) have both been a positive outlet in regard to employer benefits for the employers/groups I work with. They are always willing to go the extra mile to assist employers and myself in finding the missing piece of the employer’s benefit puzzle, no matter if it is for health insurance options, COBRA, Affordable Care Act mandates/reporting, and Medicare options-which are avenues good not only for groups, but also for individuals.

From a broker’s perspective, what a blessing it is that I have LABI/ABC to turn to for collaboration to help the groups and individual clients I strive to help!”

-MEGAN DUNN, INSURANCE BROKER

Together, we power a brighter Louisiana.

We’re the South’s leading corporate force for economic development and have been named a top economic development utility by Site Selection magazine for 12 consecutive years. We’ve worked to add thousands of jobs to Louisiana, helping our communities grow.

Entergy partners with state and local agencies to boost economic development. We invest in new infrastructure while keeping rates among the lowest in the state. And because we think generations ahead, we help train the workforce of the future.

Learn more at goentergy.com/louisiana.

A message from Entergy Louisiana, LLC ©2019 Entergy Services, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

15245-1 Entergy - ELL Economic Development Print Ad 8.875x10.875.indd 1

10/8/19 10:55 AM

DID YOU KNOW? is pleased to have a professional team of experienced policy experts and staff who diligently work to advance our mission of providing a voice on behalf of Louisiana’s job creators. They advocate for you at the Capitol, and are available to answer your questions when policy decisions affect you.

COURTNEY BAKER

Director of Trade, Transportation and Tourism, Governmental Reform, and Strategic Fundraising

LAUREN CHAUVIN

Director of Civil Justice, Energy, and Judicial Program

CAMILLE CONAWAY Senior Vice President

MARKO MARJANOVIC

Director of Technology and Environmental Quality, and Deputy Director of Judicial Program

JIM PATTERSON

Vice President of Government Relations, Director of Taxation and Finance, Employee Relations, and Executive Director of Louisiana Right-to-Work Committee

LABI.ORG