Outdoor Economic Opportunities in Central Louisiana
Alexandria, LA (3/11/2023) — Louisiana Central is hosting a Big Idea Luncheon on Outdoor Economic Opportunities in Central Louisiana on March 22, 2023, in Alexandria, Louisiana.
As part of Louisiana Central’s Outdoor Central initiative, the program is a follow-up to the Regional Economic Development Summit Louisiana Central hosted last fall. It is also an opportunity for individuals and businesses to participate in the outdoor recreation initiative.
Jonas Crews, from Heartland Forward, will join the Louisiana Central team to discuss the following:
- the characteristics of the outdoor recreation economy in Louisiana
- our region’s outdoor assets
- the impact of outdoor recreation on migration dynamics post-March 2020
- the economic value of outdoor recreation and opportunities in entrepreneurship
“Outdoor recreation is our region’s most under-realized economic opportunity,” said Jim Clinton, Louisiana Central’s President, and CEO. “We have a great array of natural resources – forests, rivers, lakes, trails – but we need more parks and more commercial development. Outdoor-related business opportunities await our entrepreneurs and existing businesses. Every parish and every municipality in the region can benefit from awareness of and investment in outdoor recreation.”
In his role at Heartland Forward, Jonas Crews directs entrepreneurship-focused research projects, co-authors reports, and conducts data analysis. Heartland Forward, based in Bentonville, Arkansas, is a regional “think and do tank” focused on improving economic performance in the center of the United States.
The luncheon will occur on March 22, 2023, from 11 am to 1:30 pm at The Community Center at England Airpark. Registration is open and includes one entry per ticket, lunch, and the opportunity to join like-minded community members to further our region’s growth and listen to a thought-provoking presentation by guest speaker Jonas Crews.