Civic, community and business leaders discussed economic opportunities in Louisiana’s heartland.
This week, leaders from the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana hosted the third annual Louisiana Rural Economic (LaRuE) Development Summit at Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville, Louisiana. LaRuE’s dozens of sessions expounded on information regarding economic development opportunities, focusing on healthcare, education, financial and digital literacy, grant applications and how to conduct business with local and tribal governments.
Leaders from across Louisiana gathered to share insight and ideas on how businesses and individuals can benefit from building relationships and creating strategic partnerships with local, state, and national leaders, federal agencies, corporate America and Native American Tribes. Topics included workforce development, agriculture, bridging the digital divide, education, healthcare, grant navigation and more.
With its extensive agenda featuring panelists and keynote speakers, LaRuE successfully stood by its mission to enhance the quality of rural life by connecting those leaders with business owners, professionals, investors and faculty and students from Louisiana universities. The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe has been a longstanding partner with the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Southern University and Northwestern State University, all of whom spoke at the two-day conference.
Originally debuted in 2019, LaRuE’s is held at a critical time for small business owners who are trying to build or rebuild their enterprises in the ever-evolving landscape of rural or agrarian Louisiana, catering to a number of different business ventures and endeavors – from education to healthcare. The event also included a Women’s Empowerment Dinner, featuring a keynote address from Louisiana Secretary of State Nancy Landry.
“Economic development is more than just a series of business transactions; it’s about creating an ecosystem where businesses can flourish, families can prosper, and communities can thrive. For rural Louisiana, economic development means access to better jobs, improved healthcare, advanced educational opportunities and a higher quality of life,” said Marshall Pierite, Chairman of the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe. “When we gather together in search of solutions, it ensures our young people can build their futures here, rather than feeling compelled to leave their hometowns for better prospects elsewhere.”
The event is part of the Tribe’s commitment to creating a better path forward, not only for its citizens, but for Louisiana and beyond.