Upper Lafayette August 2017 Newsletter by Upper Lafayette

UPPER LAFAYETTE ON THE MOVE!

UpperLafayette.com

August 2017

Volume 104

Eat Lafayette in Full Swing! Upper Lafayette On the Move Welcomes Community Leaders Lafayette General Foundation Invests in HealthLoop Lafayette Police Department Precinct 4 Grand Re-Opening And More.....

Printed by Lafayette Economic Development Authority

Published by Upper Lafayette Economic Development Foundation

Printed by Lafayette Economic Development Authority

Board of Directors Chad Cole, President Todd Citron, Vice-President Zachary Barker, Sec/Treasurer Monty Warren, Past President Adrian Baudoin Brenda Foulcard Kirk LaCour Donna Landry Pastor Ken Lazard Herbert Schilling Bryan Tabor Jerry Vascocu

Honorary Advisory Board Don Dupuis Dwight “Bo” Ramsay

Staff Jan Swift, Executive Director Emily Carline, Graphic Designer

Mailing Address P.O. Box 53107 Lafayette, LA 70505

The 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.

On the Cover: Prejean’s Restaurant is one of the participants in this year’s Eat Lafayette, which runs from June through September.

VOLUME 104 • AUGUST 2017 • WWW.UPPERLAFAYETTE.COM

A Letter from the Executive Director Well, the dog days of summer are upon us. And that means Back to School Time! Upper Lafayette has been dedicated to improving our community’s educational outcomes from our inception. We are proud to be actively involved with our students, teachers and administrators to learn more about their needs and the many ways the community may become active partners to assist in meaningful ways. Throughout the year, we support many initiatives to expose students to opportunities to display their leadership skills and engage in programs such as Lafayette Junior Leadership and Louisiana Youth Seminar. Upper Lafayette Parish high schools include Carencro High, David Thibodeaux STEM Academy, John Paul The Great Academy, Lafayette Christian Academy, Northside High and Teurlings High. We’re also blessed to have Schools of the Sacred Heart close by, right north of the Lafayette Parish line in beautiful Grand Coteau, which is an active member and supporter of Upper Lafayette. For people looking for a place to live, work or invest, Upper Lafayette Parish has a plethora of school choices, both public and private. We encourage you to keep up with the progress of our schools. Let us know if you would like to get involved on an education committee where you can learn more about making a direct impact. As an active member of Lafayette Parish Public Education Stakeholders Council, (“LaPESC”), Upper Lafayette has a seat at the table when Superintendent Don Aguillard shares his plans, concerns and hopes for the best school system. We’d love to have you join us!

Pastor Ken Lazard of Destiny of Faith Church

Please join us on Wednesday, September 20, 2017, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at Oakbourne Country Club for a fascinating overview of the economic development being driven by two Upper Lafayette clergymen: Pastor Ken Lazard of Destiny of Faith Church and Pastor Jay Miller of the Family Church. Pastor Ken’s Destiny of Faith $9 million new chapel and campus are under construction at 409 Patterson Street, and will complement the new upscale homes built under the wing of Pastor Ken in his effort to revitalize the corridor surrounding Martin Luther King. Pastor Jay and his church have taken on the responsibility of managing and upgrading Moore Park Baseball fields, as well as undertaking the expansion of Lafayette Christian Academy’s footprint.

Pastor Jay Miller of the Family Church

Tickets are $35 each, or a reserved table for eight is $300. Registration may be made online on our website at upperlafayette.com/events. Email jan@upperlafayette.com if you need further information. Thanks to AT&T, Billeaud Companies, Home Bank and Van Eaton and Romero for sponsoring our meeting!

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Eat Lafayette in Full Swing!

Lafayette has the Cajun flavors you crave, along with the freshest in Louisiana seafood, and always a little something unexpected. Homegrown chefs are putting an inventive spin on time-honored recipes with the freshest local ingredients. A distinct culinary identity as the heart of Cajun country, steeped in tradition, merges with a new generation making it an incredible place to eat. From white tablecloth to white paper napkin, all of it is incredible.

so well known locally owned eateries to celebrate Lafayette as one of the tastiest towns of the South.

One summer-long culinary celebration that has people smiling from ear to ear is Eat Lafayette, which takes place from June through September. Locals and visitors alike are invited to manger at over 100 locations of the area’s well known and not

Many Upper Lafayette restaurants participate in Eat Lafayette and this is your time to check out delicious food, offered by locally owned establishments. Bon Appetit!

To celebrate the 13th anniversary, we wanted to get back to the essence of what Eat Lafayette is all about— supporting our locally owned restaurants. It’s no secret Lafayette’s cuisine is as rich as its cultural history, hence the many awards voting us the tastiest town of the south. Now it’s time for you to make a choice. Choose local.

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Lafayette General Foundation Invests in HealthLoop expect and do every day. The unique algorithms used in the daily check-ins detect concerning symptoms, and notifies the patient’s care team. HealthLoop allows care providers to intervene before issues become expensive, or life-threatening. HealthLoop’s technology also allows care providers to focus on those patients who need them the most.

Lafayette General Foundation (LGF) recently invested in HealthLoop, a patient engagement and care coordination business based in Mountain View, CA. HealthLoop received $500,000 in funds as part of the Healthcare Innovation Fund’s effort to fuel and finance new products and services that can improve the healthcare industry. HealthLoop’s technology is a cloud-based platform that helps communication between patients and their care team after an office visit or hospitalization. HealthLoop sends automated emails, text messages, app and portal notifications with daily check-ins for follow-up care. This technology sends patients important and timely personalized information so they can know what to

“The Foundation is dedicated to assisting innovations that transform how healthcare is delivered,” said Cian Robinson, Executive Director of Lafayette General Foundation. “We want to provide patients with confidence that their care team is with them throughout their recovery. HealthLoop is a key to bringing patients that next level of care with simple communication.” To qualify for the Healthcare Innovation Fund, there is an investment review process to evaluate a company’s or a product’s potential in the marketplace. If the evaluation process is satisfied, both the Foundation and Lafayette General Health boards must approve the investment before any monies can be transferred. The Foundation is currently looking into other healthcarerelated start-up businesses for subsequent investments. For more information about the Healthcare Innovation Fund, call the Foundation office at (337) 289-8950.

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Precinct 4 Police Station Now Open 24 Hours a Day The Precinct 4 substation of the Lafayette Police Department at 1920 Moss Street may have had its grand re-opening on July 25, 2017, but the station did not go anywhere. The purpose of the “re-opening” was to notify the public of the helpful changes that have been made. “We come together as a community this morning at Precinct 4 to re-dedicate this precinct as Lafayette’s first full service police substation,” says Police Chief Toby Aguillard.

Precinct 4 Police Station. Photo by KATC

In the past, the building was only open during normal business hours. “The building has been in operation for the last two or three years, but it wasn’t open in the evenings and on the weekends. Just Monday through Friday,” says Corporal Karl Ratcliff.

The building will now serve the public 24 hours a day and seven days a week. The extended hours and service is a start for the North Lafayette community, but according to District 4 Council Member Kenneth Boudreaux, the issues in the community still tally a lengthy list. “Law-enforcement alone it’s not going to fix the issues of our community. We still have some issues unfortunately. We’ve made great strides, but we still have work to do. We still have some concerns,” says Boudreaux. The message of the day and going forward is rather simple according to Aguillard. “I want the people of Lafayette to know this is your home. This is your department. You are welcome here and we are open for business for you,” Aguillard says. Corporal Ratcliff says there will be at least one officer working in the building at all times.

Police Chief Toby Aguillard addresses crowd at grand re-opening. Photo by KATC

VOLUME 104 • AUGUST 2017 • WWW.UPPERLAFAYETTE.COM

Upper Lafayette On the Move Welcomes Dianne Mouton Allen, NCBI

Jan Swift with Dianne Mouton Allen on Upper Lafayette On the Move

Upper Lafayette was proud to welcome Dianne Mouton Allen to Upper Lafayette On the Move. Dianne is a Certified Training Professional and Director of the Lafayette Chapter of the National Coalition Building Institute, an international non-profit leadership development network dedicated to the elimination of racism and other forms of oppression.

With over twenty years of business consulting experience, Dianne provides services in Welcoming Diversity, Leadership Development, Creation of Productive Collaborations, Professional Facilitation and Strategic Planning. Dianne has extensive experience as a Business Consultant in Private Businesses, Government, Schools, Community Organizations. She has served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Department of Cultural Development/Office of State Parks, Public Relations Director of South Louisiana Community College and Provider of Choice for Diversity Programs for the Baton Rouge Chamber. She also Developed and Managed Leadership Programs for Louisiana Technical College and Office of the Lieutenant Governor. We encourage you to find out more about NCBI and the training they provide. Visit ncbi.org or contact Dianne Mouton Allen at deemallen@gmail.com. Watch our interview with Dianne at upperlafayette.com/video/dianne-mouton-allen.

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Upper Lafayette On the Move Interviews Cory Lagrange, BBR Creative

Cory Lagrange, Digital Marketing Strategist, BBR Creative

Jan Swift and Cory Lagrange. Photo by Delta Media.

As BBR’s Digital Marketing Strategist, Cory is their clients’ fastpass to online visibility. He spends his workdays managing the online marketing and optimization operations for their digital clients, ensuring content is seen and voices are heard. Prior to joining the BBR team, Cory got his first taste of agency life during his senior year of college when he interned for BBR’s digital marketing department.

In addition to his marketing and promotional prowess, Cory has been involved in the arts and entertainment industry for over 10 years. A musician since his youth, Cory’s passion for the arts led him to start his own live music booking and promotions company, Up In Arms Promotions, at the young age of 17. Helping personally attract musical acts from around the United States and beyond instilled in him a love for international music that would eventually lead him to work with Festival International de Louisiane through long-time vendor and former employer Action Specialties, where he assisted in the development and promotion of the music festival’s merchandising program.

After graduating with a B.A. in Public Relations from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette in 2011, Cory dove into the industry headfirst. His quick wit and marketing prowess quickly landed him positions in the local market, where he developed talents in social media, search engine optimization, online marketing and more. Outside of work, Cory is an allaround front man, holding leadership roles in community organizations such as The705 and Acadiana Ad Fed. His acquired expertise in a number of online arenas has made Cory an invaluable asset to BBR’s digital team.

Upper Lafayette is grateful for BBR Creative’s ongoing support of our organization, and we thank Cory Lagrange for sharing his expertise on current best digital marketing practices with our audience! Learn more about BBR Creative at BBRCreative.com. Watch our interview with Cory at upperlafayette.com/video/cory-lagrange.

VOLUME 104 • AUGUST 2017 • WWW.UPPERLAFAYETTE.COM

The Necessity of Brand Blogging As this concentration increases with routine blog posting, your site will begin to see more quality traffic (i.e., those who are interested in what you have to say or offer). More quality traffic means more leads. And we all know what more leads mean. (Hint: $$$)

2. Increase Brand Awareness in Targeted Groups

By Cory Lagrange, BBR Creative Digital Marketing Strategist Just over 20 years ago, the term “blog” had yet to grace the face of the Internet, which was still only a premature collection of HTML pages. While Generation X sat at peak buying power, the success of advertising hinged on TV commercials, radio spots and premium print placements. It wasn’t until December of 1997 when the term “weblog” first entered the public vernacular. At the time, search engines had just reached adolescence, and web users were beginning to realize the potential of “going online.” Blogs were new and unmastered, still more or less something college students did during their free time. As the practice matured and grew in popularity, however, search engines began to adapt and respond. Fast forward to now: Blogging has evolved into an almost integral part of our digital culture. Anyone and everyone can blog–from your next door neighbor’s 12-year-old daughter to brand juggernauts like Coca-Cola and Camelbak. For many, it remains a fun pastime. But for marketers, blogging is currently one of the sharpest tools in their online arsenal for gaining visibility and brand recognition. Among the many personal and professional benefits of blogging, here are four that no brand should ignore:

1. Boost SEO Ah, yes. Search engine optimization. The pinnacle of online visibility efforts. As search engines began to develop ranking algorithms based on page content, blogging became the forefront of the internet’s content arms race. If done well, blogging allows users to increase keyword concentration for targeted industry topics.

Through inbound links from social media and third-party websites, blogging can help drive targeted visitors to your site without the need for a search engine middleman. By placing links on webpages or social groups that most closely associate with your industry or service offerings, you can be more intentional with your audience selection. This will allow you to reach those users who may not yet be aware of your company or the services you provide.

3. Generate Lead Conversions The word every e-marketer loves to hear: Convert, convert, convert. Blogging provides your brand with a platform to discuss issues that directly affect your industry. Through these discussions, you will be able to target those who are experiencing similar challenges, offer solutions to address those challenges and ultimately convert potential leads into customers.

4. Establish Your Team as Industry Thought Leaders Gaining the respect of your industry’s audience is perhaps one of the most undervalued benefits of blogging—and probably the most important. Although you can’t directly quantify thought leadership into ROI, there’s definitely a correlation. When surveyed, nearly 84% of millennials said they do not trust traditional advertising. However, 62% of millennials said that online content influenced their level of loyalty and trust with a brand. Somehow, through blogging and online content generation, brands are able to create meaningful relationships with their consumers. This routine publishing of your team’s take on industry news, issues and updates will help keep you top of mind when consumers begin to look for solutions.

Make Your Voice Heard Whether you’re a new face in the game or an established name looking for online recognition, blogging is an effective device to add to your toolbox. If you’re just getting started, hit the ground running by downloading our best practices checklist.

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Thank You for Your Generosity... Platinum Members Acadian Companies

Oakbourne Country Club

Acadiana Computer Systems, Inc.

Prejean Creative

ASH/Badger Oil Company

Rader Solutions

Couret Farms

SLEMCO

Cox Communications

SMILE

Delta Media

Therapy Center of Carencro

Home Furniture

Universal Sign & Manufacturing

Hub City Ford

Company

IBERIABANK Lafayette General Medical Center McDonald’s of Acadiana

Bronze Members Acadiana C.A.R.E.S.

Our Lady of Lourdes Republic National Distributing Company Schilling Distributing Company

Advancial Federal Credit Union Breaux & Stelly Law Firm, LLC Crawdaddy’s On-Site Catering

Stone Energy

Lynn Guidry, Architect

Whitney National Bank

Jay Castille Construction

Gold Members Acadiana Rubber & Gasket

John Paul The Great Academy

Lee Verret/State Farm Insurance Agency

Atmos Energy Beau Box Commercial Real Estate Dupré Logistics, LLC

Lowry’s Printing and Copying

Iqbal Merchant, CPA

Gibson Energy Services

Phyllis Coleman Mouton

Gulf Coast Bank

One Acadiana

Home Bank

Petroleum Club

Van Eaton & Romero

Gold

AT&T Beau Box Commercial Real Estate Billeaud Companies Broussard & David Honda of Lafayette Insurance Resource Group Jones Walker Lafayette Surgical Specialty Hospital LUS NeunerPate SMILE Community Action Agency UL Lafayette B.I. Moody III, College of Business Administration Van Eaton & Romero The Veterinary Clinic at Gloria Switch

Silver

Acadian Companies Advancial Federal Credit Union Picard Group Schilling Distributing Company

Mailing Systems Inc. Melancon I-49 Storage Center

Farm D’Allie

Platinum

Acadiana Computer Systems Cox Communications IBERIABANK Keller Williams Realty Acadiana LEDA

Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission

Aries Marine Corporation