Beauregard Electric Cooperative, Inc. (BECi) leads the way to progress

Economic development partners host site location consultant

DeRidder, LA – Seeking to better understand the corporate site selection process and devise ways to attract more business to the area, Beauregard Electric Cooperative (BECi) along with the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives (ALEC) hosted a basic site selection course for local leaders on October 25 at BECi’s main office in DeRidder.

            Four mayors from Beauregard and Vernon parishes, along with leaders from the business, education and government sector, attended the workshop to better understand the corporate site selection process and improve our community’s business recruitment program.

            The full-day workshop was conducted by leading site location consultant Mark Sweeney, senior principal with McCallum Sweeney Consulting (MSC) located in Greenville, S.C.  Recent MSC clients include Oreck, Nissan, Michelin, Dollar General, and Boeing.

            Sweeney shared actual experiences of plant location projects, offering an inside glimpse into the thought processes and strategies used by corporate facility planners, as well as tips on how to improve the area’s chances of attracting new manufacturing plants or back office operations.

“ It was very interesting and very enlightening to hear from someone who actually consults with corporations on a regular basis and helps lead them through the steps required to site a new corporate facility,” said BECi Director of Business Development Beama Sanson.

            The Louisiana Basic Site Selection workshop is a program developed by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) and is offered through a partnership with the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives (ALEC) and the Louisiana Department of Economic Development.

            “The threefold purpose of the program is to familiarize participants with key trends that impact the corporate site selection process, create a better understanding of how companies decide where to locate their facilities, and take participants through an effective process for preparing for and working with business prospects,” said Mike Olivier, Secretary for the Louisiana Department of Economic Development (LED). “This program is exactly the kind of support that LED wants to deliver to our communities to help engage them in economic development at the local level,” Olivier said.

            Emphasizing regional cooperation, BECi invited community leaders in Beauregard and Vernon Parishes to participate in the workshop.  While in town, local officials took the opportunity to show Sweeney available industrial sites and buildings in the community.

Quotes from each mayor:

Mayor Freddie Boswell of New Llano

            “I think the instructor was a very good instructor. He provided a lot of knowledge of the program and some ideas to use as we expand.”

Mayor Betty Westerchil of Leesville

            “Mark Sweeney’s presentation included valuable information which can be useful to the City of Leesville.  We are grateful for the opportunity to participate.”

Mayor Ron Roberts of DeRidder

            “What we learned today is invaluable if we are going to attract new business to Beauregard Parish.  I want to thank Beauregard Electric for taking the lead in our economic development efforts.”

Mayor Charles Hudson of Merryville

            “The instructor explained what to do to reach out to the different businesses coming into town.  The instructor also told us what to do if we did not have the resources to attract new business and how to seek our economic development assistance at the state level.”

Photo Identification:

Front Row left to right:  Becky Lambert, Louisiana Department of Economic Development (LDED), Mark Sweeney, course instructor, Mayor Betty Westerchil of Leesville, and Mayor Freddie Boswell of New Llano

Photo Identification:

Back row from left to right:  Mayor Charles Hudson of Merryville, Beama Sanson, Director of Business Development at BECi, Mayor Ron Roberts of DeRidder, Pete Schmutz, principal, C&I Development at NRECA, Stephen Broussard, regional director for LDED, and Rick Ward, Director of Economic Development at ALEC