WORK

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS

Greater Shreveport Chamber

For more than 110 years, the Greater Shreveport Chamber has worked on behalf of businesses to produce valuable programs and events that help grow their professional networks, advocate for business-friendly public policy, as well as work with our community partners to assist with job creation and opportunities throughout our region. From professional development programs and workforce development initiatives, to roundtable forums, your Chamber ensures you have the resources you need to succeed.

Louisiana Small Business Development Center

Louisiana Small Business Development Center is the state’s largest and most accessible source of assistance for entrepreneurs. It is the only statewide and nationally accredited program that provides business consulting to entrepreneurs at no cost. Through a network of 10 centers, the LSBDC provides high quality one-on-one consulting, training, and information resources to help your business start, grow, and succeed.  

Shreveport Next

Shreveport Next, an initiative of BRF, recruits high-growth small to mid-sized businesses from across the country to relocate or expand facilities in the Shreveport-Bossier area. Its goal is to diversify the region’s business base by bringing new jobs, payroll, revenue, and investment to Northwest Louisiana.  

CO-HAB

Cohab is a non-profit hub providing entrepreneurs at all levels the traction to achieve success.

 We believe the pathway to a stronger community begins with empowering our home grown talent and keeping them rooted in North Louisiana.

LOUISIANA ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Louisiana Economic Development is responsible for strengthening the state’s business environment and creating a more vibrant Louisiana Economy. LED’s vision is to ensure that Louisiana consistently outperforms the South and the US in creating jobs and economic opportunities for citizens. With this vision, LED works to cultivate jobs and economic opportunity for the people of Louisiana through nine integrated economic development strategies. 

BRF

BRF is an economic development organization establishing North Louisiana as a preferred destination for high growth initiatives. Diversifying the region’s economy is its mission. Through initiatives that support community, regional and national needs in health and medicine, resources for entrepreneurs, and the development of a science and technology-based workforce, BRF fulfills their mission greatly 

Shreveport-Bossier African American Chamber

The SBAACC strives to serve as the Premier Voice in Northwest Louisiana for the growth of African American Businesses and the Community at-large through Advocacy, Entrepreneurship, and Economic Empowerment. Our Vision is to be the Ultimate Resource for African American Businesses. 

SOUTHWESTERN ELECTRIC POWER COMPANY (SWEPCO)

With headquarters in Shreveport, SWEPCO serves 535,000 customers in northwestern and central Louisiana, western Arkansas, East Texas and the Panhandle area of North Texas. SWEPCO is an operating company of American Electric Power (AEP), is one of the largest electric utilities in the United States. Giving back to our communities by investing in our local economies is a fundamental component of our company vision of powering a new and brighter future for our customers and communities. SWEPCO is proud to support the vibrancy and resilience of the communities that we serve — as an energy company, as a utility and as a system of community support and economic development.

North Louisiana Economic Partnership

NLEP is an Accredited Economic Development Organization that provides professional economic services, including lead generation and prospect management, to the 14 parishes of North Louisiana. The organization also represents the interests of North Louisiana with a unified voice and as a single point of contact. It acts as a catalyst, a convener, and a connector in the region to ensure that North Louisiana’s economic development potential is realized. Their vision is for North Louisiana to be a thriving region and a destination for high quality talent, innovative companies, and global investment.  

Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program

The Entrepreneurial Accelerator Program is a public/private partnership between BRF, the Caddo Parish Commission, and the City of Shreveport to diversify the regional economy, create jobs, and expand the area’s tax base by providing services to innovative startups that have a high growth potential. EAP analyzes the viability of ideas and products, matches them with informed investors, and nurtures them through the critical steps toward market. EAP provides a suite of services to build sustainable and profitable companies in Northwest Louisiana while stimulating economic development and enhancing the regional innovation entrepreneurial ecosystem.  

DOWNTOWN SHREVEPORT DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION

DSDC is a private, non-profit corporation formed to promote business growth in the Downtown Development District.  DSDC operates a low-interest loan program and has funded key historic rehab projects including the conversion of the old Ivan Smith Furniture store into Artspace (708 Texas), the creation of Robinson Film Center (617 Texas), and the adaptive reuse of 416 Cotton (the DDA building) and others.