Tag: Shreveport

Louisiana Innovation Division to Propel Louisiana Startups Forward

The state of Louisiana took a significant step toward fostering innovation and technological advancement with the recent launch of Louisiana Innovation (LA.IO), a new division within Louisiana Economic Development (LED). This initiative aimed to position Louisiana as a hub for high-growth, technology-driven startup companies. The announcement, made by LED, highlighted the creation of the Louisiana Growth Fund, which initially secured $50 million in federal funding to support entrepreneurs in establishing and scaling their ventures across the state.

A key component of LA.IO’s early initiatives was the establishment of the Louisiana Institute for Artificial Intelligence, a 501c3 organization designed to spearhead the state’s AI strategy. This strategy focused on applied research, commercialization, workforce development, and policy formulation. One of the Institute’s inaugural projects involved equipping 5,000 small businesses across Louisiana with AI tools to enhance their scalability and competitiveness in the marketplace.

Louisiana Economic Development Secretary Susan B. Bourgeois emphasized the importance of cultivating homegrown businesses in addition to attracting external investments. She highlighted that Louisiana Innovation would work closely with both startups and existing companies to nurture the state’s innovation economy. Bourgeois cited Meta’s $10 billion data center project in Richland Parish as evidence of the state’s commitment to innovation, noting that such investments underscored the effectiveness of this forward-thinking strategy.

Beyond the Growth Fund, LA.IO brought together various partners already dedicated to supporting innovators. LED had already engaged in seven seed capital funds across Louisiana, with plans to expand in 2025. Key partners included Ochsner Louisiana’s Innovation Fund, Tulane University’s Innovation Institute, the New Orleans Startup Fund, Innovation Catalyst, Boot64 Ventures, The Idea Village, and Propeller. These entities leveraged funding streams like the State Small Business Credit Initiative (SSBCI) to provide additional capital, thereby boosting the total funding pool for startups to over $100 million.

Josh Fleig, LED’s Chief Innovation Officer, highlighted the critical role of connections and mentorship in the success of startups. He stressed that linking entrepreneurs to customers, resources, and expert guidance was as crucial as providing financial support. Fleig announced that LA.IO would organize new events to foster these vital connections within the startup ecosystem. His remarks were delivered to an audience of business leaders, higher education representatives, economic development officials, and government figures during the Super Bowl LIX Louisiana Now Pavilion event.

Several regional partners, such as The Idea Village in New Orleans, Opportunity Machine in Lafayette, and EAP and Startup Prize in Shreveport, were set to lead these innovation-focused events. LA.IO planned to expand its network by adding more university partnerships, creating a collaborative ecosystem that facilitated real-time collaboration and shared resources.

Fleig noted that these partnerships, with their established and impactful startup events, would now operate under the unified umbrella of Louisiana Innovation. This collective effort aimed to build an ecosystem greater than the sum of its parts, providing essential support to entrepreneurs navigating challenges such as business model development and investor readiness.

The Innovation Day program concluded with an announcement from Waymo, a leading autonomous driving technology company. Waymo showcased one of its self-driving cars outside the Louisiana Now Pavilion and revealed that New Orleans had been selected as one of the 10 cities for its 2025 Road Trip tour. This initiative aimed to expose Waymo’s autonomous navigation system to diverse driving conditions across the country, from varied road features to different driving behaviors.

Louisiana Economic Development has consistently aimed to attract capital investment, create jobs, and expand economic opportunities within the state. The launch of Louisiana Innovation reinforced this mission by providing a structured platform for nurturing technological advancement and entrepreneurial growth.

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AHEAD Program Gives Louisiana High Schoolers Inside Look at Health Careers

For two years now, Louisiana high school students have been able to participate in a week of educational activities pertaining to the healthcare field thanks to the School of Allied Health Professions at LSU Health Shreveport, and according to this feature article from The Shreveport Times, this second year of the AHEAD program was twice as successful as last year’s program when it premiered.

AHEAD, also known as the Allied Health Education and Discovery program, is an annual five-day opportunity for Louisiana high school students to engage in the various types of health, health science, and medical programs available at the School of Allied Health Professions at LSU Health Shreveport. According to the Director of admissions for the school Madeline Barclay, “this is a program for Louisiana high school students to learn about all the different academic health programs we have at the School of Allied Health Professions.”

Despite this annual tradition having only completed its second year, enrollment numbers have doubled from when the program premiered in 2021. According to Barclay, “we had one session with 20 students in 2021, and it was so popular that we expanded it this summer to two sessions, 25 per session.”

The AHEAD program is a 5-day experience that is free to Louisiana high school participants in which the students engage in full-day sessions that include hands-on, interactive activities within each medical or health-aligned discipline. According to LSU Health Shreveport, “students will receive tips for success in college and guidance on how to pursue a professional career in healthcare. Our emphasis will be on recruiting students from underrepresented backgrounds with the primary goal of contributing to a diverse educational environment.”

Students participating in the AHEAD program are able to choose from several medical and health-aligned disciplines to study and observe during the week-long sessions. The high school student participants are able to participate in field trips and career-focused activities that give participants specific insight into the following health professions: Medical Laboratory Scientist,

Nurse, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapist, Physician Assistant, Public Health Professional, Respiratory Therapist, and Speech-Language Pathologist.

While last year’s camp of 20 students was large enough to populate a single session in June for the nearly two dozen participants, this year’s doubling of the program’s capacity warranted two summer sessions, which is certainly encouraging for the AHEAD program, as it’s projected to be an annual tradition. This summer, 50 total students from 13 separate Louisiana high schools attended the summer program, which was hosted by the School of Allied Health Professionals as two separate week-long camps.

Makenzie Boucher from The Shreveport Times spoke to local high school students participating in the AHEAD program this summer. One local high schooler who was interviewed about her experience participating in AHEAD was Elizabeth Gaspard, a Haughton High School graduate of the Class of 2022. Gaspard commented on her experience engaging in the medical programs available at AHEAD by saying, “it’s just so cool to go around and learn about the different occupations and how important they are. It just inspires all of us in the class to consider it and be open-minded.”

Madison Evans, an AHEAD program participant from the inaugural summer session in 2021 reflected on her experience by saying, “participating in the AHEAD program was truly a life-changing experience. Throughout the program, we had daily hands-on-learning experiences. We were given the opportunities to visit the cadaver lab, tour parts of the hospital, and learned about many Allied Health Professions that I never knew existed. This program taught me so much about the different health professions. Before the AHEAD program, I did not know about Respiratory Therapy, however, I now know how important respiratory therapists are to helping people recover from illnesses.  The program provided us with a visual map and outlined the steps to take in college to achieve these careers. Attending the AHEAD program gave me more confidence in pursuing a career in the healthcare field. I am truly thankful to have had this experience.”

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The Top Threes of Shreveport, Louisiana

If you ever find yourself with some extra time in Shreveport, Louisiana, here are some of the top experiences there you wont want to miss out on.

1. R. W. Norton Art Gallery

Named after Richard W. Norton, a discoverer of the Rodessa Oil Field in northern Louisiana, the art gallery began as a fine art collection by his wife and son. In 1946, Mr. Norton’s mother and son created the R.W. Norton Art Foundation, which later became the R.W. Norton Art Gallery.

Surrounding the art gallery is 40 acres of beautiful botanical gardens, described as “one of the South’s favorite spots” by Southern Living Magazine. Indoors, the gallery has an extensive fine art collection including over 400 paintings from over 100 artists. The collection spans at least four millennia. The gallery also takes part in an oral history project. Created in 2003, the project has grown to include stories of World War II, the Civil Rights Movement, Louisiana Musical Pioneers, and more.

2. Louisiana Exhibit Museum

The Louisiana Exhibit Museum was one of the Public Works projects during the New Deal and was completed in 1939. The building holds 23 scale dioramas showing life in 1940s Louisiana. There are regional art collections, Native American Artifacts, and natural history exhibits.

3. Beef Jerky Outlet

Recently ranked by Entrepreneur magazine’s Franchise 500®, Beef Jerky Outlet is a top beef jerky retailer. Being in Louisiana, this is a prime place to go for some alligator jerky. With other jerkies ranging from the traditional beef to kangaroo and even ostrich, Beef Jerky Outlet is a place to visit for an eccentric and out of the ordinary experience.

3 Places to Stay

1. Fairfield Place Bed & Breakfast Inn

Built by a Louisiana Supreme Court Judge, Thomas Thompson, and his wife Mary Eliza, this bed and breakfast was built in the early 1870s and is possibly one of the oldest houses on its street. With beautiful New Orleans style patios and an old-timey feel, Fairfield Place is almost a blast from the past featuring modern amenities such as WiFi, Cable TV, private bedrooms, and more.  Begin each morning with a feeling of Louisiana and a full breakfast.

2. Clarion Inn

With over 200 rooms and suites, the Clarion Inn is the perfect place to stay. With a free continental breakfast, marketplace, fitness center, high-speed internet, and more, it’s the place to stay for a nice and classic getaway. The Clarion is also pet friendly for those traveling with their four-legged friends. It is a perfect stay for group travel and even includes business spaces.

3. Remington Suite Hotel and Spa

The Remington Suite Hotel and Spa may be small, but it’s mighty. It has 22 rooms and one penthouse. The beds and mattresses are custom made. Rooms come equipped with a kitchenette, a jacuzzi, flat screen televisions, iPod docking stations, and more. Hotel amenities include complimentary WiFi, a full service spa, a media room, and an indoor pool.

3 Places to Eat

1. Food Shack

A self-described Southern Experience, Food Shack serves Southern Style food. A locally owned and operated business, Food Shack serves Louisiana classics gumbo, po-boys, and jambalaya.

2. Frank’s Louisiana Kitchen (Cajun/Creole Food)

Frank’s Louisiana Kitchen is on a mission to bring southern Louisiana style cooking to the northern part of the state. Everything here is made from scratch and served in a more upscaled and relaxed, casual setting. There are chef’s specials Thursday through Saturday with live jazz on Sundays. He has recently partnered with Artemis Gourmet Mushrooms to offer gourmet Louisiana-grown and harvested mushrooms in his dishes.

3. Cold Stone Creamery (Sweets)

In case of a sweet tooth, Cold Stone Creamery is the ultimate destination. They offer what they call a “10-Minute Vacation®.. that 10-minute getaway you deserve from the world outside our doors.” They’ve been in business for 25 years and show no signs of slowing down. Each dessert is prepared individually for each customer, providing a truly encompassing experience.

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