Collaborative placemaking for economic impact
The 2nd Annual “Upstate Rising: The North Louisiana Public-Private Partnership, Real Estate Development, and Land Use Planning Law” Conference, hosted by Bossier Parish Community College’s Economic & Workforce Development Division, is scheduled from 8:30 am – 4:45 pm on Thursday, August 23 in the BPCC Gym, 6220 E. Texas St., Bossier City, LA.
BPCC Economic & Workforce Development Division brings dynamic speakers and leaders to the table, and provides this unique opportunity for those in “upstate” Louisiana to take control of their own economic destiny.
“We are excited to provide a means for positive community collaboration,” said Gayle Flowers, Ed.D, Vice Chancellor for Economic & Workforce Development at Bossier Parish Community College. “This collaboration uniquely positions North Louisiana as a dynamic region for business success, family stability and satisfaction, and an enviable quality of life.”
The daylong conference will bring approximately 125 attendees including realtors, architects, civil engineers, attorneys, real estate developers, public officials, municipal planners, financial institution representatives, and citizens to the College’s campus. Attendees will learn “best practices” and strategies to improve their business opportunities and the economic well-being of Northwest Louisiana.
This year’s featured speakers are Mike Mullis and Denise Mott with J. M. Mullis, Inc., a globally recognized project location firm. They will describe the opportunities of our region from the perspective of their clients such as Boeing, Delta, FedEx, Caterpillar, Tiffany & Co., Wal-Mart, Tyson, TD Ameritrade, Sabre, and many more.
The conference will focus on the significance of infrastructure through Exploring Roads, Rivers, and Rails, and includes Dr. Shawn Wilson, secretary of Louisiana’s Department of Transportation and Development, as the keynote speaker. Dr. Wilson discusses how public policy and Louisiana transportation infrastructure construction, expansion, and improvement support public-private partnerships, real estate development, and land use planning.
Others speakers on the conference agenda are:
- Mayor Bill Sanderson, Village of Choudrant, & building official for City of Ruston
- Neil Erwin, attorney, and Caroline E. Mladenka, MPA, Neil Erwin Law, LL
- Kent Rogers, Executive Director, Northwest Louisiana Council of Governments
- Curtis A. Wright, Sr., real estate professional
- A professional panel, facilitated by Liz Swaine, Executive Director, Shreveport
Downtown Development Authority:
- William “Bill” R. Altimus, Bossier Parish Police Jury Administrator
- Eric England, Executive Port Director, The Port of Caddo-Bossier
- Brian Crawford, Chief Administrative Officer, Office of the Mayor, City of Shreveport
- William “Bill” Cooksey, Deputy Director of Airports, Shreveport Airport Authority
Sponsors are: Platinum – AEP SWEPCO & City of Bossier City; Diamond – Bossier Parish Police Jury & Bossier Parish Community College Division for Economic & Workforce Development; Gold – Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation & Neil Erwin Law, LLC; Silver – Bossier Metropolitan Planning Commission, Natchitoches Community Alliance, & North Louisiana Economic Partnership; and Bronze – American Institute of Architects-Shreveport Chapter, American Society of Civil Engineers-Shreveport Branch, Bossier Press Tribune, Coordinating & Development Corporation, Bossier Chamber of Commerce, Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce, Louisiana Engineering Society-Shreveport Chapter, Louisiana Municipal Association, and Louisiana Police Jury Association.
Early registration of only $249 ends July 31. View the agenda & register NOW at: http://bit.ly/2GyuQKo . CEUs available for certain organizations. For more information, contact Bossier Parish Community College’s Division of Economic & Workforce Development, upstaterising@bpcc.edu or 318-678-6016.