LED, Entergy Launch Site Selection Toolbox To Enhance Economic Development Throughout Louisiana

LED, ENTERGY LAUNCH SITE SELECTION TOOLBOX TO ENHANCE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THROUGHOUT LOUISIANA Louisiana Economic Development and Entergy Louisiana Economic Development announced the launch of the Site Selection Center. The Web-based, easy-to-use and comprehensive database, found at LouisianaSiteSelection.com/LED or OpportunityLouisiana.com/Sites, is designed to assist businesses looking for new locations or opportunities to expand their operations. "With more than 400 available properties listed, the Site Selection Center will significantly improve Louisiana's business recruitment capabilities," said LED Secretary Stephen Moret. "We are launching a state-of-the-art resource that makes Louisiana more competitive and makes it easier to attract investment in communities throughout our state." Combining detailed demographic and business data with Geographic Information System mapping technology, the Site Selection Center allows business executives, site selection consultants and engineers to zoom in on high-resolution aerial photographs of potential business and industry sites in Louisiana. The site provides comprehensive details, such as state incentives to locate or expand operations; rail, water and highway access transportation routes; community profiles and demographics; and information on surrounding businesses that could provide needed support and supplies. Real estate companies, communities and economic development organizations now have a powerful tool to help promote Louisiana's commercial and industrial properties worldwide. The Site Selection Center was developed by Entergy and offered to state and local economic development organizations without charge in a public-private partnership to promote the state. "We are very pleased to offer this technology to support economic development in the state," said Renae Conley, president and CEO of Entergy's Louisiana companies. "We and Louisiana Economic Development share the same goals - to bring new jobs, growth and prosperity to the communities in which we live and work." "We wanted to develop a tool that made the enormous potential that Louisiana has visible on a local, national and global level," said Shelley MacNary, director of Entergy's economic development initiatives for its two Louisiana utilities. "The site provides the information that businesses and site developers look for when they are planning to locate or expand operations. It positions Louisiana as a serious contender for new business and economic opportunities, and we are excited to be part of its development." To combine the detailed data with map imagery, Entergy worked with Microsoft Virtual Earth to use its integrated platform, giving chief executive officers and site selection consultants a bird's-eye view of locations across the state. "With just a few clicks of the mouse, they can easily find the imagery they're looking for right there on the computer screen," said Chris Sampson, director of Virtual Earth Sales and Operations at Microsoft Corp. "Combined with the high-quality demographic and business data, they have all of the resources they need to make the best decisions for their companies." In addition to the data and imagery, Entergy has made it possible for organizations to customize their appearance, which allows economic developers to tailor the look of the site. "Having this level of information instantly available to companies considering expansion or relocation to the Bayou Region immediately distinguishes our region from other possible business destinations," said Vic Lafont, CEO of the Southeast Louisiana Economic Council. Tana Trichel, president and CEO of Northeast Louisiana Economic Alliance, agrees. "We are privileged to have this technology that moves us closer to our goal of competing at any level, in any market and in any country," said Trichel. Other local and regional Louisiana organizations also using the Site Selection Center to promote areas of the state include Bayou Region, Ascension Economic Development Corporation, Baton Rouge Area Chamber, Port of Lake Charles and Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance. For additional details on the new Site Selection Center technology, view the fact sheet here. The database is also available at LouisianaSiteSelection.com/LED