Find out at the first-ever State of the Economy Luncheon next Thursday at the Cajundome Convention Center. Next Thursday, May 17, LEDA will unveil its first-ever Economic Performance Index, an ambitious project that pulls together more than 1,500 data points into 15 key statistics critical to the local economy. If you're in business in the Acadiana area, you should be there.
"Although Lafayette's economy remains robust by comparison to most in the U.S., local business decision-makers take nothing for granted and have never been more eager for quality information," says LEDA President and CEO Gregg Gothreaux. LEDA's EPI report will be presented for the first time at the inaugural LEDA State of the Economy Luncheon at the Cajundome Convention Center at noon. Gothreaux and his staff have been working for more than two years to make this project a reality.
ABiz will publish the report with Gothreaux's analysis in its next issue on May 31, and a complete copy of LEDA's findings will be available in flip format online (www.abizlafayette.net and www.lafayette.org) following Gothreaux's presentation.
Billeaud Capital Management is the presenting co-sponsor of this event. Since he founded the company in 1986, BCM president Bo Billeaud has developed his own market risk model and now manages a well-diversified portfolio of assets worth more than $200 million. "We know a little bit about what it takes to put together a report this concise, current and mission critical," says Billeaud. "We also recognize the value of such information and jumped at the chance to help LEDA present its EPI to a broader audience, especially since Gregg will be offering his unique insight as to what those numbers actually mean."
Joining Billeaud as a presenting sponsor is The Acadiana Economic Development Council, comprised of economic development professionals from the core Acadiana parishes: Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin and Vermilion (www.teamacadiana.org). "Today, more than ever, businesses want to be able to make strategic decisions based on information that is obtained from measurable data such as key economic indicators," says Rebecca Shirley, director of AEDC. "Having this information prepared by LEDA, an organization that has hands-on knowledge of Acadiana's economy, will offer our Acadiana companies a new competitive edge."
There is limited seating at the luncheon. Tickets are $45 per person or $395 for a premium reserved table for eight. For more information regarding the event, contact Business Development Director Robin Hebert via email at [email protected] or by phone: (337) 769-8603. You can also order tickets online: www.theind.com/indevents.