Fresh Central is hosting a series of short courses in May 2017, with topics designed for small, diversified farms, market gardeners, and skill-seekers interested in farming and large scale gardening for fun and profit. These short courses are an in-depth exploration of farm technology fundamentals and best practices that can help you build a lean, ...

A special Happy Hour edition of Maker Mornings will feature a Vidalia businessman’s success story and the unveiling of an interactive map that highlights Central Louisiana’s makers. The free event will be held from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 2, at The Gem, located at 1014 Third St., in downtown Alexandria. Register ...

Dear Fellow Education Advocates,   You and your organization depend on the success of our education delivery system to help all of our citizens become productive members of our economy. Unfortunately, we have 55,000 adults that have not yet achieved their High School Diploma. You can help us help these adults get back on the ...

The Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance (CLEDA) is excited to announce the first Farm to Table event of 2017, on April 20th from 8:30 – 9:30 am in the Vault at the CLEDA offices in downtown Alexandria. Farm to Table events are geared towards restaurants, institutions, and businesses that buy/sell food on a regular basis, ...

GRANT PARISH PLANT PROJECT SUSPENDED   Plans by an Eastern European company to convert an idled Grant Parish biofuels plant into an ammonia manufacturing facility have been put on hold indefinitely, officials with the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance announced Friday.   “We’re disappointed that the TopChem project has been suspended,” Jim Clinton, president and ...

WANTED: MAJOR EMPLOYERS DIVISION LEADER   Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance is the regional economic development organization for the Ten Parishes of Central Louisiana. CLEDA provides a wide variety of economic development services including recruitment, retention and development of major employers; building knowledge platforms and networks to achieve higher levels of educational achievement and skills ...

The Ice House Entrepreneurship Program begins March 16th If you or someone you know has always wanted to be a business owner but not sure of the first step this workshop series could be the answer. The Ice House Entrepreneurship Program is an experiential learning program designed to inspire and engage participants in the fundamental ...

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Making! It’s a vital part of Central Louisiana.   Who are MAKERS?   MAKERS, are people and companies that create things & ideas. MAKERS are: builders, artists, manufacturers, storytellers, chefs, fabricators, restaurateurs, suppliers, thinkers, and doers!   According to AdWeek, the maker movement, is the umbrella term for independent inventors, designers and tinkerers. A convergence ...

from www.thetowntalk.com A report put Louisiana at No. 1 for the percentage of adults with a high-quality post-secondary certificate, and the state’s overall rate of earning a credential improved from last to 26th. The drastic move up the ranks comes from a change to include certificates in the equation and a push for more credential ...