Editor’s Note: The story on the SAFE Award has been modified from an earlier version to correctly reflect the name of the plant managers honored with the award. Business Report regrets the error.
Top honors: Of the four chemical plants in the state being honored with a “Best in Louisiana” SAFE Award from the Louisiana Chemical Association this year, two are located in Baton Rouge. ExxonMobil’s polyolefins plant, managed by Angela Zeringue, received the award for plants with 201 to 400 employees, while the company’s chemical plant won the award for plants with more than 400 employees. The chemical plant is managed by Bob Johnston. Air Liquide’s plant in St. Charles Parish, managed by Nicholas Frasier, won the award for plants with 100 or fewer employees, and Angus Chemical’s plant in Ouachita Parish, managed Ernest Green, won for those with 101 to 200 employees. The winners are among 63 plants that were considered for the award, which is the LCA’s highest honor.
Following the money: The Louisiana Industrial Developers Executives Association will host a comprehensive professional development course on project financing at LSU next month. “This is the first time a course of this magnitude on project financing has been held and we encourage attendance as it likely won’t be held again until after 2016,” says Scot Byrd, LIDEA professional development committee chair. “Those involved in economic development, whether a practitioner, public official, banker, engineer, real estate manager or other, will benefit from the knowledge and tools gained to assist in financing development projects.” The course will held from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Nov. 17-18 at the Business Education Complex at LSU. Cost is $550 for guests and $505 for LIDEA members. Get complete details and register to attend.
Target audience: AARP Louisiana has released exclusive video interviews with gubernatorial candidates John Bel Edwards, a Democrat, and Republican David Vitter about issues important to older voters in advance of the Nov. 21 runoff. Among other topics, the candidates answer questions about the possibility of expanding Medicaid in Louisiana and managing long-term care. AARP Louisiana is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that does not endorse political candidates. Citing voter statistics from the Secretary of State’s office, AARP Louisiana notes there are more than 1.6 million registered voters in Louisiana aged 45 and older, accounting for 56% of all registered voters in the state. “Older voters have the potential to set the tone in Louisiana for the next four years,” the nonprofit says. See the video interviews and voting guide by AARP Louisiana.
