Special Presentation: AMCC’s Louisiana Roadshow
We had a memorable three-day visit to Louisiana, thanks again to the leadership of University of Louisiana at Lafayette, and especially to Chad LaComb and Dr. Geoffrey Stewart for their organizing work that made for such a valuable experience. Our Roadshow focused on the region of Acadiana, comprised of Lafayette and surrounding parishes, who are engaging in new levels of collaboration and building trust to build new industries in the region. The overwhelming message we heard was one of resilience and economic diversity, coupled with workforce and all the other Big 6 elements (or as Mike Tarantino with IDF put it, a “manufacturing gumbo”) to deliver success and new opportunity for the region.
The new opportunities were palpable, with virtually all stakeholders remarking on the major achievement of attracting a new First Solar manufacturing facility that will directly employ 700+ individuals, with a strong induced job multiplier effect. It was clear that the early investments ULL and its partners made in alternative energy research and testbeds have paid off, as ULL operates one of only 6 utility-scale testing labs in the country. We heard from elected officials, regional utilities and from First Solar’s Chief Commercial Officer Georges Antoun on the importance this investment will have for the region’s manufacturing capabilities.
Beyond clean energy, we heard about new efforts to expand biomanufacturing and research in the region, with the local asset of New Iberia Research Center as a tentpole for a future biocluster. The stakeholders there are working on a new biosafety level 3 lab that would allow for even greater research opportunities, with plans to connect that new facility to an entrepreneurial accelerate to foster new business development.
We also met with manufacturers working in defense and agriculture, including Noble Plastics, Tides Medical, Metal Shark, Supreme Rice, Coastal Plains Meats and others, to learn more about the historic and new businesses that are providing good paying wages and long-term opportunity to local workforce. We also had the opportunity to meet with ULL’s EDA-designated University Center and SBA GAFC-funded nonprofit, Maven Scouts, who are working hard to equip small business owners with the means and knowledge to form and expand their businesses.
And, we ate great food and brought many new stakeholders into the AMCC family! Thanks again to Chad, Geoff, ULL, and everyone who participated in this excellent Roadshow visit, onward!
