Blog

By Andy Medici-Senior Reporter, The Business Journals, 7/16/21 The Small Business Administration officially closed its Paycheck Protection Program to new loan applications at the end of May, and subsequently closed its Restaurant Revitalization Fund grant program in early July, leaving small business owners with dwindling options for relief. But there are still some grant programsRead more

Governments can appropriate American Rescue Plan dollars to help the travel and hospitality industries rebound from economic devastation brought by the pandemic.  Article written by Andrea Noble, June 16, 2021; for Route Fifty.  States are restarting their economic engines this summer and several are planning to use federal stimulus dollars to help bring back tourists.Read more

The American Rescue Plan is delivering an unprecedented $350 billion in direct aid to state and local governments across the country and the sheer size of their share has many leaders overwhelmed. Acadia Parish has received $12.1 million in funding, and the seven municipalities in the parish have between them another $10.7 million, the amounts variedRead more

Throughout the month of July, JT Meleck Distillers is teaming up with Acadiana Veteran Alliance (AVA) to produce “Spirit of Valor,” a collaboration to increase awareness and raise money for Acadiana veterans. “JT Meleck Distillers is proud to be supporting our veterans by partnering with the Acadiana Veteran Alliance through the Spirit of Valor campaign,”Read more

On June 30, 2021, Governor John Bel Edwards announced more then $315 million in federal coronavirus relief aid will be allocated to 290 Louisiana towns and cities under the American Rescue Plan to help them respond to the ongoing COVID-19 emergency and support economic recovery. “The American Rescue Plan provided vital aid for communities largeRead more

By Steve Bandy, Managing Editor of Crowley Post Signal The citizens of Iota are beginning to see the fruits of their labors. For years, a volunteer committee has been holding fund raisers–pausing for COVID-19–in order to build the first-ever community park. Carrie Leckelt, who chairs the all-volunteer group, explained they agreed to name the parkRead more

By Greg Hilburn, Lafayette Daily Advertiser, published on June 25, 2021.  Louisiana adults will be able to access grants to pay for education for high-demand, high-paying careers beginning next summer at the state’s community and technical colleges after Gov. John Bel Edwards signed the MJ Foster Promise program into law. Louisiana Community and Technical College System President MontyRead more

One Acadiana announced on Thursday, June 24, that they, in collaboration with Louisiana Economic Development, will host the sixth cohort of the Acadiana CEO Roundtable program. The 2021 Acadiana CEO Roundtable program will begin on August 5, 2021. CEO Roundtables bring together groups of 15-18 key decision makers from Louisiana-based small businesses 10 times overRead more

State policy leaders play a vital role in advancing credential transparency as a critical part of their larger economic and education strategy. Many organizations are encouraging state policy leaders to integrate transparency with efforts aimed at quality, attainment goals, equity and affordability. State policymakers can support quality assurance of credentials through the following actions: PrioritizeRead more

Increasing the Power of Transparency by Assuring Quality of Credentials There have been calls for a focus on outcomes in postsecondary education and training for decades. But these conversations have happened largely between similar providers or programs. The frameworks and metrics of quality and definitions of “outcomes” haven’t been consistent or comparable. Education and trainingRead more