Blueprint Louisiana calls for a ‘New Economy’

Blueprint Louisiana, a nonpartisan reform group headed by some of the state’s top business leaders, is pushing efforts to create a knowledge-based, innovation-driven economy. To that end, the group says it will back performance-based funding for higher education, instead of the current formula based on student enrollment. Blueprint also supports creation of a Louisiana Research Alliance to guide state investments toward diversification of the economy. Blueprint says Louisiana lags behind other states throughout the country who are using their colleges and universities to create and support knowledge-based niche industry sectors. In 2007, the Board of Regents and the Louisiana Recovery Authority funded a plan to envision such a strategy for Louisiana, but it has yet to be acted upon. The organization estimates a research alliance would need $500,000 in startup costs, and $30 million to $40 million annually for research, development, entrepreneurship and technology commercialization to “transform Louisiana’s economy.” Sean Reilly, chairman of Blueprint Louisiana and COO of Lamar Advertising, says the group supports a phased-in approach of up to 36 months for higher education funding reform, to establish changes while recognizing “challenging fiscal conditions that have signaled cuts to higher education funding.” The ultimate goal is to increase by 10.000 Louisiana’s annual production of degrees and certificates.