Community Outreach
CBER
The Center of Business Economic Research (CBER) provides reliable, timely, and accurate economic data that is critically important to the development of our region. 
Quarterly,
CBER participates in an Accra-Cost of Living Survey so our regional
cost of living can be compared with the rest of the country. This data
along with other pertinent economic data is published in the Northeast
Louisiana Fact Book on an annual basis. The Fact Book has become a
valuable resource for business leaders and economic development
professionals throughout the state. CBER annually publishes the
Louisiana Fact book, which is a comprehensive compilation of data and
some analysis of the demography and economy of Northeast Louisiana. Each
spring, the ULM College of Business along with LA Tech's College of
Business host a Business Outlook Summit during which much of the data
and analysis from the Fact Book and Accra-Cost of Living Survey are
presented and discussed with leaders throughout the region. All three of
the previously mentioned sources are made available for public
consumption at no cost. Resources provided through CBER have played a
critical role in developing the region, such as provided necessary data
and analysis for relocation decisions, reducing costs of financing, and
business expansions. With CBER's vital information about Northeast
Louisiana, Monroe was able to bring a large-scale manufacturing company
to the area. V-Vehicles made extensive use of the sources available from
CBER. Based on the information that was provided by CBER, Toyota felt
Monroe would be the ideal location for their subsidiary. This is just
one of the many ways that CBER has contributed to the growth and future
successes of the local community.
LSBDC-ULM
The Louisiana Small Business Development Center at ULM
(LSBDC-ULM) is a great program that offers free consulting support
for local businesses or entrepreneurs. The LSBDC-ULM assists these
individuals and businesses with management and technical assistance,
including developing business plans, developing expansion plans, or even
tan assessment of the business. The LSBDC-ULM offers many classes and
workshops that teach local entrepreneurs in the community about opening
and running a business effectively and efficiently. The LSBDC-ULM also
provides an information resource center that is used to help local
businesses with collecting industry data about that business's industry
or competitors. These services that are performed by the LSBDC-ULM are all
available absolutely free to local businesses or potential business
owners in the community.
During
this past fiscal year, the LSBDC-ULM was able to generate on average $5
million in capital, which includes loans and/or equity, for local
businesses that were looking to open a business. The LSBDC-ULM helped the
community by assisting in opening 16 new businesses last year alone. To
help the community even more, the LSBDC-ULM was able to help local companies
grow and were able to create 76 new job positions within these local
businesses. The LSBDC-ULM not only helps the local businesses and
entrepreneurs looking to open a business, but the program also looks to
help students at ULM. The LSBDC-ULM will assist students with marketing
analysis and data, whether for classes or potential business ideas.
The LSBDC-ULM helps to create potential business plans for students that are looking to become entrepreneurs upon graduation. Most importantly, the LSBDC-ULM helps to give students at ULM real world experiences with developing business plans or changing particular facets of the business to help in contributing to the success of businesses in the community.