Ascension Economic Development Corporation

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Food incubator receives grant for label maker; advisory committee also formed

(Gonzales, LA, June 30, 2008)The Louisiana Edible Creations Center, Louisiana’s only incubator dedicated to the food entrepreneur operated by the Ascension Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales, has received a $5,000 grant for label making equipment from the Louisiana Cultural Economy Foundation, a newly formed foundation under the Lt. Governor’s office to promote the cultural economy in Louisiana.

AEDC releases Pointe Sunshine megasite national marketing presentation

(Sorrento, LA- April 29, 2008)- The Ascension Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) has developed a state of the art marketing presentation that will be used to professionally market the 1,000 acre Pointe Sunshine deepwater megasite located just outside of Donaldsonville to national site selection consultants and real estate executives.

AEDC launches national downstream chemical marketing initiative

(Sorrento, LA- April 17, 2008)- Based upon a pilot program developed by SSA Consultants with BASF for AEDC earlier this year, the organization has begun a national marketing effort to attract specialty, downstream, and renewable fuels companies for co- location opportunities in Ascension Parish.

LA Edible Creations Ctr. to offer food entrepreneur training program

(Gonzales, LA, April 2, 2008) The Louisiana Edible Creations Center, Louisiana’s only incubator dedicated to the food entrepreneur operated by the Ascension Economic Development Corporation, is bringing the nationally recognized “From Recipe to Reality” seminar to Louisiana on July 12th from 8am-5pm at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales in the main meeting room at the Expo Center. This seminar is part of the University of Nebraska Food Entrepreneur Assistance Program.

Kristin Batilus named new Director of Retention/Small Business Development; Duplessis promoted to Project Coordinator

(March 7, 2008-Sorrento, LA) Kristin Batilus has been named Director of Business Retention and Small Business Development for AEDC starting April 1.

LA Edible Creations Center to receive grant for flash freezing equipment

Gonzales, LA- February 14, 2008) The Louisiana Edible Creations Center (LECC) at Lamar Dixon has received a $49,300 grant for the purchase of a nitrogen flash freezer at the facility. The flash freezer was installed in October of 2007 and was loaned to the facility by Air Products while LECC installed the proper piping and safety equipment and purchased nitrogen for the use by LECC tenants. The grant will allow the LECC to purchase the flash freezer to remain in the facility permanently.

Edie Michel to leave AEDC for Baton Rouge Area Chamber

(Sorrento, LA- February 6, 2008)- The Ascension Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) announced today the resignation of Edie Michel, Business Development Director of AEDC, who has accepted a position with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber to become the designated economic development director for East Baton Rouge Parish.

AEDC launches GIS-based site selection project for light industrial/commercial development analysis

Sorrento, LA- January 29, 2008)- The Ascension Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) announced today the availability of GIS technology to determine the best parcels in Ascension Parish for light manufacturing and commercial development.

AEDC receives $400,000 grant for rail spur for Geismar biofuels plant

(Sorrento, LA- January 18, 2008)- The Ascension Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) today was approved for a $400,000 grant by the screening committee of the Louisiana Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) for the construction of a rail spur for the Dynamic Fuels biofuels plant in Geismar announced last November.

AEDC launches specialty chemical initiative with SSA Consultants

(Sorrento, LA- January 10, 2008)- The Ascension Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) has begun the process of attracting small, specialty-type chemical companies to Ascension Parish by launching a targeted marketing effort to companies that can utilize existing chemical streams and co-locate new plants within the footprint of existing Ascension Parish plants.

Pointe Sunshine 1,000 acre megasite to be certified on December 13th

(Sorrento, LA- November 27, 2007)- After a twelve month process to develop a certified or “shovel-ready” deep-water Mississippi River industrial site, The Ascension Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) has announced that all requirements for certification have been met and the site will be officially certified at a ceremony with local and state dignitaries on December 13th at 10:00am at the site located near the Sunshine Bridge on Highway 18.

AEDC signs option to purchase Pointe Sunshine (Houmas) megasite

(Sorrento, LA- October 11, 2007) The Ascension Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) has officially signed an option to purchase agreement to purchase a 1,000 acre parcel known as Pointe Houmas, marketed nationally as “Pointe Sunshine,” for the development of the first certified deep megasite along the lower Mississippi River from the Thibaut family. The property is owned by Crawford and Thibaut, Inc., a company owned by the Thibaut family.

LA Edible Creations Center to receive flash freezing equipment

(Gonzales, LA- June 19, 2007) The Louisiana Edible Creations Center (LECC) and Air Products have signed an agreement to provide batchline freezer equipment to LECC’s growing commercial kitchen equipment inventory. The addition of this flash freezing equipment will further enhance the capabilities of the tenants who use the 5,000 square foot kitchen incubator at the Lamar Dixon facility. LECC is the first kitchen incubator in the State of Louisiana promoting the creation of small businesses in the food industry and is a program of the Ascension Economic Development Corporation.

LA Edible Creations Center Awarded $7,500 Grant for Packaging Equipment

(Gonzales, LA- January 17, 2007) The Louisiana Edible Creations Center (LECC) has added new packaging equipment to its existing commercial kitchen equipment. The addition of this packaging equipment will further enhance the capabilities of the tenants who use the 5,000 square foot kitchen incubator at the Lamar Dixon facility. LECC is the first kitchen incubator in the State of Louisiana promoting the creation of small businesses in the food industry.

AEDC to develop “shovel-ready” megasite for Ascension Parish

(Sorrento, October 5, 2006) The Ascension Economic Development Corporation (AEDC), through its private charitable foundation-the Ascension Economic Development Foundation (AEDF), has started the process of identifying a 750+ acre site within Ascension Parish for future large industrial projects.

Louisiana Edible Creations Center® receives $25,000 grant from Credit Bureau of Baton Rouge, Inc.

(Sorrento, May 2, 2006) A $25,000 grant from the Credit Bureau of Baton Rouge, Inc. has been awarded to the Louisiana Edible Creations Center® (LECC) through the Ascension Economic Development Corporation’s newly created charitable foundation. The grant will be used for start-up equipment expenses at the facility and will assist displaced food companies with facility needs.

Louisiana Edible Creations Center® to Open in May at Lamar-Dixon

(Sorrento, April 20, 2006) Ascension Economic Development Corporation (AEDC) officials have signed a one year sublease with Ascension Parish and SMG officials for a 5,000 square foot commissary located at the Lamar Dixon Expo Center in Gonzales to create the Louisiana Edible Creations Center® (LECC), the first shared kitchen food incubator in Louisiana to grow the food processing industry within the State. The facility, pending state and local health permits, expects to begin receiving tenants in late May/early June.

AEDC Releases Video to Promote Ascension Locations to Movie Industry

(April 4, 2006-Sorrento, LA) AEDC officials have completed a seven minute animated video promoting Ascension Parish and its diverse and unique landscape to the burgeoning film and video industry which continues to grow in the State of Louisiana. The video was designed by AEDC and Mindworx, a local marketing firm in Prairieville, and assistance from officials with the Ascension Parish Tourist Commission.