Business Acceleration System earns Community Economic Development Award, while “We Make Good Stuff” Roadshow named Best in Show for communications excellence
ALEXANDRIA, La. (UrbanCast: 8/19/2026) – Louisiana Central is celebrating two major honors from the Southern Economic Development Council (SEDC), recognizing both the measurable economic impact of its Business Acceleration System (BAS) and the organization’s innovative approach to telling Central Louisiana’s economic development story.
Louisiana Central’s Business Acceleration System (BAS) has been selected as a recipient of the 2026 SEDC Community Economic Development Award, while the organization’s “We Make Good Stuff” 10-Parish Roadshow has been named Best in Show in the 2026 SEDC Communications Awards.
The honors were presented during SEDC’s Annual Conference in Bonita Springs, Florida, August 17–18. Louisiana Central President & CEO Chris Masingill attended the conference to accept the awards on behalf of the organization and its regional partners.
“SEDC members are relentlessly and innovatively accelerating economic development across the AmericanSouth. Collaboratively, our membership operates within a network that has built the equivalent of the 3rd largest economy on the planet and has positioned us for continued progress,” stated SEDC President MattTackett. “Our members compete successfully in a global marketplace and set the worldwide standard for economic development strategy, as demonstrated by our CEDA Award winners.”
BAS: Creating Business Growth and Opportunity Across Central Louisiana
“These awards are a tremendous recognition of the work happening across Central Louisiana,” said Masingill. “The Business Acceleration System is helping entrepreneurs turn ideas into growing businesses, create jobs and build a stronger, more resilient regional economy. At the same time, the ‘We Make Good Stuff’ Roadshow is helping us tell the story of the incredible businesses, workers and products that make Central Louisiana special. We are proud of this recognition, but even more proud of the people and partners who make this work possible. This is a win for the entire region.”
Louisiana Central’s BAS was recognized for its measurable impact on entrepreneurs, businesses and job creation, as well as its broader role in strengthening the region’s economic resilience.
“Every year, SEDC recognizes Southern communities that drive economic development excellence. In 2026, we proudly continued this tradition by selecting the CEDA Award Winners,” stated Tim Weston, SEDC Chairman. “Congratulations to all who participated and were ultimately recognized for this significant achievement. The American South remains strong in attracting and retaining jobs due to your unwavering efforts.”
The Business Acceleration System is made possible through funding from The Rapides Foundation, extending the Foundation’s commitment to improving the quality of life in Central Louisiana by investing in entrepreneurs, strengthening local businesses and creating greater opportunities for economic mobility. Through this partnership, BAS provides business coaching, education and resources directly to entrepreneurs, helping them build sustainable companies that create jobs, generate wealth and contribute to stronger, more resilient communities.
“As a health foundation, we understand the strong connection between economic opportunity and overall health. Twenty years ago, we saw an opportunity to develop a system to support entrepreneurs and strengthen our region’s workforce and economy. That vision became what is known as BAS. Since then, Louisiana Central and the BAS team have built on that vision and done a tremendous job advancing the program and its impact,” said Joe Rosier, President and CEO of The Rapides Foundation. “We are proud to see BAS recognized with this major award and commend the entire team for this well-deserved achievement.”
The impact of BAS extends beyond the businesses directly served. The concentration of economic impact among growth-oriented businesses demonstrates BAS’s strategic focus on scalable companies. The program’s economic impact is particularly concentrated among growth-oriented firms.
BAS also creates significant secondary benefits by promoting entrepreneurship as a pathway to economic prosperity through strategic communications, workshops, media outreach and community partnerships.
The program helps entrepreneurs in rural communities access expertise, coaching and resources that might otherwise be concentrated in larger metropolitan areas. That accessibility helps retain talent, diversify local economies, support business succession and expansion, create pathways for wealth creation and strengthen regional economic resilience.
“BAS is about more than helping individual businesses succeed; it is about creating a stronger economic foundation for the communities we serve,” said Gary Perkins, Executive Director of BAS. “When entrepreneurs grow, they create jobs, generate new wealth and help build a more diverse and resilient economy. This recognition shows the tremendous potential that exists when Central Louisiana entrepreneurs have access to the coaching, education and resources they need to grow.”
“We Make Good Stuff” Named Best in Show
Louisiana Central’s second SEDC honor recognizes the organization’s communications and marketing efforts.
The “We Make Good Stuff” 10-Parish Roadshow was selected as Best in Show in the 2026 SEDC Communications Awards, standing out in a highly competitive field for its creativity, innovation and impact.
The Roadshow highlighted the manufacturers, producers, workers and businesses creating products across Central Louisiana while showcasing the region’s diverse industrial and manufacturing capabilities.
The initiative was part of a broader effort to elevate the region’s economic development story and demonstrate that Central Louisiana is home to companies making, building and producing products that reach markets well beyond the region.
“Being named Best in Show by the SEDC is an incredible honor for the entire Louisiana Central team and, more importantly, for the businesses and people we set out to celebrate,” said Masingill. “This campaign gave us a powerful opportunity to shine a light on the products being made, the jobs being created and the talent driving our economy across all 10 parishes. Central Louisiana has an incredible story to tell, and this recognition reinforces that when we work together to tell that story, we can put our region on a much bigger stage.”
A Regional Story Worth Telling
The two SEDC awards reflect complementary aspects of Louisiana Central’s work: creating measurable economic impact and telling the story of that impact.
Together, the awards highlight the power of a regional approach and the importance of investing in entrepreneurs, supporting business growth, creating jobs, strengthening communities and telling the story of what Central Louisiana can accomplish.
“The American South is the strongest and best-positioned economy on the planet. Within our membership are professionals responsible for billions in corporate investment, millions of created jobs, and those who tell our story across the globe,” said Tackett. “SEDC members compete successfully in a global marketplace, which is why our communications content is truly world-class. The SEDC Communications Awards showcase the best of the best.”
The recognition also reflects Louisiana Central’s commitment to engaging directly with businesses and communities across its 10-parish region. Through its First 100 Days Regional Listening & Business Outreach Tour, Louisiana Central leadership engaged with more than 180 businesses, industry leaders and community stakeholders while traveling more than 1,800 miles across Central Louisiana.
The Southern Economic Development Council represents 17 states and Washington, D.C. across the American South. Its Community Economic Development Awards recognize communities that have made significant contributions to economic and community development vitality. One award is presented in each of five population categories
