Published January 26, 2012
BRAC Analyzes Public School Performance
An analysis of the performance of the twelve school districts located within the Capital Region was recently released by BRAC. The report reveals, in detail, the outcomes for the 2009-2010 and 2010-2011 school years, how their levels of student achievement compare to their peers across the state, their current standing within Louisiana's new letter-grade rating system, and many other critical matters. The region's districts as a whole have an average district performance score (DPS) of 93.5, which is slightly below the state average of 94.2. Currently, three districts reside within the state's top ten, which include Zachary, West Feliciana, and Central community. The most distressing aspect of the analysis is that the Baton Rouge area has forty-one schools at risk of being eligible for state takeover during the next four to six years. Of that total, twenty-five are located in East Baton Rouge Parish. For a complete look at the analysis, click here. BRAC will update the analysis each year once the information for the previous school year becomes available. The updated report will be made publicly accessible.
West Sanitation Services Announces Relocation to Baton Rouge
Governor Bobby Jindal and the West Sanitation Services Inc. CEO Ben Elder announced the dual relocation of the company's corporate headquarters from California to Baton Rouge and its manufacturing operations from Illinois to Baton Rouge. The move will represent a $1.14 million capital investment and will bring thirty new direct jobs and an estimated fourteen new indirect jobs to East Baton Rouge Parish. A manufacturer and distributor of odor control products for commercial and institutional restrooms, West Sanitation will consolidate operations in a Beaumont Drive industrial building near Airline Highway. The company's jobs will average more than $38,000 per year, plus benefits. Manufacturing operations will begin in Baton Rouge by February 2012, with the headquarters transition from California to Louisiana completed by this summer. For more information about West Sanitation Services Inc., click here.
CATS Board Proposes Property Tax Funding
The parish bus system's board of commissioners voted unanimously to ask voters in April to approve a property tax for the bus service which has been plagued by budget shortfalls in recent years. The board is asking voters in Baton Rouge, Zachary, and Baker to approve a ten-year, 10.6-mill tax on properties in those cities only. The proposed tax, to be placed on the April 21 ballot, is expected to generate $18.4 million a year for the Capital Area Transit System (CATS). Board member Jared Loftus said, if voters approve the tax, the agency's operating budget would grow to about $30 million a year, which is more than twice its current budget of about $12 million. Loftus said if voters in Baker or Zachary reject the tax, CATS is not obligated to serve those cities; however, the bus service would likely provide limited access to the areas. The funding would enable CATS to implement the recommendations made last year by the Blue Ribbon Commission. Among the recommendations by the commissioners, appointed by the mayor-president, are more buses and more routes, and ultimately reducing wait times from seventy-five minutes to fifteen to twenty minutes. BRAC, a supporter of the decision to move forward with the April election, was involved with the Blue Ribbon Commission last year and assisted in assembling a new civic group, the Baton Rouge Transit Coalition, in recent weeks to push forward the commission's recommendations.
How Crafty Startups Handle Job Recruiting
Finding great job candidates is both time-consuming and competitive, especially for startups. Some companies are starting to get creative in their job recruiting. Companies need to prove themselves to potential employees as much as job seekers need to prove themselves to executives. "It's less about putting up a job posting and waiting for resumes to start flowing in," says Leah Busque, founder of TaskRabbit, a San Francisco-based company that puts busy people in touch with others willing to do chores and a variety of other services for a fee. Click here to read more about the secrets of job growth and how to get creative.
Squandered capital, wasted efforts, shattered dreams. Eric Ries, author of The Lean Startup, is on a mission to save entrepreneurs from such a fate. Ries, a serial entrepreneur, co-founded IMVU, an online social network that made the Inc. 500 last year. Through trial and error at IMVU, Ries developed a methodical approach to launching companies. Now he's creating a movement. Read more about how Eric Ries developed a scientific method for launching profitable companies.
Creating an 'Ecosystem' for Minority Entrepreneurs
According to John Sibley Butler, a management professor at the University of Texas at Austin, urban centers across the country need to develop "ecosystems" that support entrepreneurs, particularly those whose rapid-growth companies create jobs in minority communities. Urban areas, especially those in decline, need to reinvent themselves and "invest in the future, and new ideas coming out of laboratories," he said. Click here to read more about creating an 'ecosystem' for minority entrepreneurs.
BRAC Events
BRAC and SCORE's Small Business Education Series
How to do business with LSU
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
@ L Club of the LSU Pete Maravich Assembly Center, LSU, Baton Rouge
6:00pm-8:00pm (LSU men's basketball game at 8:00pm)
$10 per person (includes a ticket to attend the LSU men's basketball game at 8:00pm)
Register online »
Join the BRAC Small Business Council and SCORE for a seminar on doing business with LSU. There will be a panel discussion on how businesses can utilize the resources of Louisiana's Flagship University. Speakers will include representatives from Access LSU, LSU Career Services, and the office of purchasing. The seminar includes light refreshments, networking, and a ticket to attend the LSU men's basketball game at 8:00pm.
Panelists include:
Marie C Frank, MPA, CPPB - Executive Director of Procurement Services and Property Management Chief Procurement Officer
Charles F. D'Agostino - Executive Director of the Louisiana Business & Technology Center; LSU Innovation Park, Executive Director; and Stephenson Entrepreneurship Institute, Acting Director
Dr. Mary D Feduccia - Director of LSU Career Services Division of Student Life & Enrollment
2012 Baton Rouge Area Canvas Workshop
Destination Louisville, KY
Sunday-Tuesday, March 25-27, 2012
$2,200 per person
(includes hotel and charter flight)
Contact Nancy Little at nancy@brac.org
Register online or download form »
East Baton Rouge Parish (EBR) Mayor-President Melvin "Kip" Holden and the Baton Rouge Area Chamber (BRAC) have selected Louisville, Kentucky as the destination for the 2012 Baton Rouge Area Canvas Workshop. Local business and community leaders will travel to Louisville for three days and two nights to gather insights and inspiration to be utilized in the Capital Region. Based on recent successes, Louisville can provide attendants with useful information on public education, workforce development, talent retention and attraction, international business development, and riverfront development.
LANtec Client Appreciation Day/Open House
Meet and greet LANtec's dynamic instructional team who will present free seminars and clinics
Thursday, January 26, 2012
@ LANtec Computer Training Center, Baton Rougea
9:00am–4:30pm
Free admission
More information »
Creative Louisiana: Scott Olivier
Creative Louisiana is based on the popular lecture series called Creative Mornings
Friday, January 27, 2012
@ Shaw Center for the Arts, Baton Rouge
8:30am–10:00am
Free admission
More information »
Operation Get Connected
Become a "star volunteer" and introduce yourself to businesses belonging to the BBB
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
@ Holiday Inn South, Baton Rouge
7:30am–11:00am
bjm@batonrouge.bbb.org or call 225.346.8343
BBB's B2B Breakfast
A great opportunity for you to meet other business professionals in our community!
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
@ Drury Hotel, 7939 Essen Park (Off Essen Lane), Baton Rouge
7:30am Registration, 8:00–9:00am Program
$10 (BBB-accredited members), $15 (Non-members)
bjm@batonrouge.bbb.org or call 225.346.8343
The Three P's of Education: Parents, Principals, and Progress
The discussion will focus on creating new opportunities for principals and parents to work alongside the business community to improve student progress
Thursday, February 16, 2012
@ Juban's Restaurant, Baton Rouge
11:00am–12:30pm
More information »
The 35th Habitat Home & Garden Show
Sign up today if you are interested in being an exhibitor at this event
Saturday, March 3, 2012–Sunday, March 4, 2012
@ River Center, Baton Rouge
9:00am–7:00pm and 10:00am–6:00pm
Booths range between $575 and $775
More information »
To see a more extensive list of Baton Rouge area events, visit the Creative Capital of the South® website here.