"This region is recognized for its creativity. It also supports essential resources designed to encourage the small business person,” said Chamber President / CEO Rob Guidry. "The Chamber will align those resources to further energize our entrepreneurs.”

One example of the available resources is the Lafayette Economic Development Authority (LEDA), which the Chamber initially created to funnel incentives to small businesses. Another example is the Small Business Development Center, which exists specifically to mentor start-up businesses.

The ULL College of Business also has a mission to provide assistance to entrepreneurs. The dean of the College of Business, Joby John, sits on the Chamber Board of Directors. "Our faculty is stepping up its involvement in the community outside of campus. We have a role in economic development and the Chamber is an ideal vehicle to reach the business community,” said John.

Additionally, the Chamber is collaborating with LEDA, the university and the Louisiana Immersive Technology Enterprise (LITE) to establish a Small Business Accelerator. The entity, set to open in early 2010, will provide seminars tailored to the entrepreneur and will also have an angel funding and venture capital component.

Chamber Vice-Chairman for Public Policy, Clay Allen, is quick to point to another extraordinary resource available to creative minds. "Lafayette is blessed with the luxury of having both public and private entities investing millions of dollars in fiber optic connectivity. The opportunities are there for the nimble and those with the creative spirit. The sky is the limit for the small business person, for the entire community, actually,” noted Allen.

The Chamber is working on several levels to encourage innovation using fiber optics. One of the most notable areas is that of public education. Coinciding with the fiber-driven opportunities is the fact that long-time Chamber member and entrepreneur, Tom Cox, owner of Golfballs.com, and local attorney Nancy Landry represent Lafayette on the new Louisiana Technology Council. Both Cox and Landry, who is also a state representative, will be the interface with the state's knowledge-based initiatives.

Another fertile area for job growth is the region's rich culture. Working in collaboration with the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission the Chamber is eager to exploit our indigenous art, music and food.

"The Cajun and Creole experience is unique and authentic,” exclaims Gerald Breaux, Executive Director of LCVC. "We are poised to present this to the world and to create even more interest and thus more new jobs.”

Breaux and Guidry point to the soon-to-be-completed Acadiana Center for the Arts performance center in Downtown Lafayette as yet another resource for innovation. "If Austin can produce the ‘Austin City Limits' concept, we certainly can create something at least as exciting and market it to the world,” they point out.

The Chamber is also aligning its resources with the new Lafayette Entertainment Initiative (LEI) which was established by Lafayette Consolidated Government to recruit and support the motion picture industry.

According to Parish President Joey Durel, the investment in the movie business is already paying dividends. "Lafayette cultural attributes are being recognized beyond our borders. Those in the movie business are spreading the word about what we have here and how appreciated they are here.”

Guidry summed up the Chamber's position. "As Lafayette continues to grow and become more complex and demanding there is an increasing need to adapt to change and to take advantage of what is unique. The Chamber is will be an integrator of the old and the new to foster a superior quality of life.”