The St. Tammany Economic Development Foundation is encouraging local small businesses to participate in a unique program designed to spur growth and job-creation in our region.

In cooperation with the East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce, the West St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce, and Southeastern Louisiana University, EDF is hosting two informational sessions for businesses interested in participating in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Program in the Greater New Orleans Area.

The annual Oktoberfest celebration sponsored by Deutsches Haus, a non-profit organization that has been celebrating and preserving German heritage and culture, will be held this year at River Town in Kenner.

Deutsches Haus and its members have been celebrating German culture and tradition in New Orleans since its creation in 1928. Oktoberfest, historically held at the Deutsches Hause’ former location in downtown New Orleans, has been the group’s signature event, drawing thousands of visitors and participants each year…

St. Tammany Economic Development Foundation Executive Director Brenda Reine Bertus said Business Facilities magazine’s new ranking of Louisiana as the second-best state for Economic Growth Potential and the seventh-best in Best Business Climate shows positive signs for the state and region.

Originally published in the July 3, 2011 edition of The Advocate

After an economic winter, shoots of business life in recent months have burst forth along the Interstate 12 corridor in Livingston, Tangipahoa and St. Tammany parishes.

During the past decade, those three parishes east of Baton Rouge ranked in Louisiana’s top four, behind Ascension Parish, with growth rates above 20 percent. Livingston’s rate almost touched 40 percent.

Two local companies were honored yesterday at the Governor’s Technology Awards Luncheon in Baton Rouge.
Bondilyn Jolly, of the Slidell-based eMerge, was the recipient of the Technology Leader of the Year Award. The award is given annually to an individual who has made a substantial contribution to the state’s technology sector.