Southern University at Shreveport's (SUSLA) Workforce Development is strengthening its role as a driver of economic development through intentional collaboration and workforce-focused programming. On February 27, the SUSLA Workforce Development Department, in partnership with the Milam Street Kitchen Incubator Community Kitchen (MS KICK) and the Louisiana Small Business Development Center (LSBDC), hosted its inaugural Black History Month Vendor Pop-Up Shop at the SUSLA Metro

It’s been a whirlwind month of growth and caffeine-fueled adventures! Spoonbill Coffee Roasters recently returned from an eye-opening trip to Costa Rica with Cafe Imports, going behind the scenes at top-tier farms and mills like La Candelilla and Las Lajas. This deep dive into origin—including a visit to the renowned ICAFE— is already fueling the passion behind every roast Spoonbill produces. Back home, the community is growing faster than ever; Spoonbill is thrilled to annou

Beyond HR has achieved significant growth in client impact and regional presence. They now support nearly 50 active small-to-mid-sized businesses across multiple states and industries, having successfully expanded their internal team to seven members to maintain a high-touch, relationship-driven service model. Their dedication to excellence was recently recognized on a regional level, as the firm was named one of the Top Accounting Firms in the Bayou Choice Awards . Beyond HR

Featured in this spotlight is Rashad Rainey, a dedicated community leader and the entrepreneur behind Supreme Italian Ice and Treats. As the most recent 1st-place winner of the Bayou Region Incubator’s pitch competition, Rashad has successfully transformed what started as an idea to create a refreshing, allergy-free frozen dessert, has grown into a thriving Italian ice business built on quality, consistency, and community support. By offering a treat everyone can enjoy, free

Sarah Dickerson is the resilient artist behind Sarah Dickerson Portraits and a dedicated member of the Bayou Region Incubator. Approaching her first full year with the incubator, Sarah’s journey is a powerful testament to the strength found in re-centering and rebuilding. After facing a period of significant transition and professional challenges, joining the Bayou Region Incubator in March 2025 marked her first major step toward growth and a courageous decision to "try again

The Grant O Show has become a vital voice for South Louisiana stories and culture. It has been a landmark year for the show, including a recent feature in the January 2026 edition of Point of Vue Magazine and a regional appearance on Télé-Louisiane. These media milestones are matched by a growing list of powerhouse community partnerships, including Rouses Markets, Spahr’s Seafood, Explore Houma, Southern Merch + Marketing, and OH Flowers. Perhaps most exciting is that The G

We are proud to feature Kantrella Singleton, a versatile tax specialist and prolific author behind Honesty Taxes and Services. A graduate of Virginia College Online and a former student of accounting at DeVry, she is currently furthering her expertise by pursuing a career in psychology at Nicholls State University. Her commitment to continuous growth is evident in her recent achievement of earning two new certifications and three Continuing Education Credits in Taxation Train

By Dillon Lowe The Rouses Market at Arlington Marketplace After developing its high-protein, plant-based snacks through LSU’s FOODii program and gaining early traction in Baton Rouge-area grocery stores, local snack startup Dr. Seitan’s is preparing for its biggest growth step yet: a statewide launch in Rouses stores this March. Founded by husband-and-wife duo Alex and Elise Kreilich, Dr. Seitan’s produces a line of “crunchy puffs” made from seitan, a protein-dense, vegan-fr

A Community Celebration of Food, Culture, & Entrepreneurial Growth Shreveport got a delicious taste of its own emerging culinary talent on November 22, 2025, when the Milam Street Kitchen Incubator & Community Kitchen at Southern University at Shreveport (MS KICK–SUSLA) hosted a vibrant Foodie Fest that drew more than 150 attendees. Organized by Executive Director Monique Armand, the event blended food, culture, and entrepreneurship—spotlighting MS KICK’s growing role in shap

September 26, 2025 Chckvet founders Colin Hebert, Matthew Ieyoub, George Villaume and Elliott Greenwood You might say Chckvet, a startup whose software tools make veterinary practices more efficient, was born of frustration. Colin Hebert, Matthew Ieyoub and George Villaume had previously launched a web and app development company, Breach Software, which served as the web development team for Mallard Bay, the VRBO of hunting and fishing. “They really liked it, but Breach’s gro

August 21, 2025 Cremmjoy’s soft serve ice cream and frozen confections technology is roughly 18 months away from hitting the commercial market, company officials said, and disrupting a billion-dollar global industry whose technology remains frozen in time. “We will complete our Series A funding round at the end of August and will use that funding to put our machines through field trials in late 2025 and throughout 2026,” Cremmjoy Chief Development Office Danny Fields said. “W

July 15, 2025 When United Launch Alliance needs to check the foam insulation that protects its rockets from space’s extreme temperatures, the Lockheed Martin-Boeing joint venture calls on a two-person shop in Baton Rouge: Advanced Microwave Imaging (AMWI) So do The Welding Institute, one of the United Kingdom’s oldest engineering organizations; IRISNDT, a non-destructive testing firm that’s part of global risk management giant Apave Group; and the Electric Power Research Powe

Statewide, La. (Feb. 21, 2025) — Future Use of Energy in Louisiana (FUEL) is proud to announce its first-round investments in...

Highly competitive NSF Engines grant will provide up to $160 million to support Louisiana’s energy industry, create jobs and develop the...

By Sean Green | STRIKEWERX Marketing and Communications Director BOSSIER CITY, La. – Air Force Global Strike Command got a hands-on...

The Innovation Enterprise at Louisiana Tech University has been selected for a $1.5 million award through the U.S. Economic Development Admi

Louisiana Tech President Dan Reneau honored the memory of Robert H. “Bobby” Rawle, former Louisiana Tech administrator and distinguished...

by Gavin Kelly A basketball finds the net of a hoop standing upright in the middle of a massive industrial warehouse in Ruston....

By: Michele Marcotte mmarcotte@gannett.com • Alchemy Geopolymer Solutions won the inaugural Louisiana Startup Prize • Each finalist had...

— Funding awarded through Regional Innovation Strategies Program National Competition — U.S. Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker...