BATON ROUGE, La. – Entergy Louisiana provided a $180,000 grant to the Baton Rouge Area Chamber as part of the company’s efforts to support regional economic development across the state.
Entergy’s investment helps to fund BRAC’s efforts to cultivate talent, transform quality of life and grow and diversify the economy of the nine-parish Baton Rouge area.
“BRAC’s vision is to develop the Baton Rouge Area into one of the leading economies and premier business locations in the country, growing and attracting talent with our unique culture, vibrant communities, and beautiful spaces. The support of corporate partners like Entergy Louisiana is critical to making that vision a reality,” said Adam Knapp, president and CEO of BRAC. “We value Entergy Louisiana’s commitment to economic development, and its collaboration on initiatives to advance our strategic plan.”
Through its Business and Economic Development team, Entergy Louisiana works with state and local government agencies, economic development organizations and community partners to attract new businesses and jobs to Louisiana.
“Economic development partners like BRAC and others across the state are helping us map out the blueprint for a bright future in Louisiana,” said Ed Jimenez, director of business and economic development for Entergy in Louisiana. “Together, we’re helping our friends and neighbors in the communities that we serve realize business opportunities and a desired quality of life right here at home.”
The grant contributions will support the vision laid out in BRAC’s five-year strategic plan, Think Bigger. By growing and diversifying the Baton Rouge Area economy, cultivating the region’s talent, transforming the Baton Rouge Area’s quality of life, and elevating the region’s external image, BRAC seeks to move the region forward for the benefit of the entire population.
“The Louisiana Site Selection Center and other initiatives of its kind have showcased what our region has to offer, including demographic and business data to parish and community profiles. This hub of information has helped businesses make important decisions, which in turn helps BRAC aggressively compete for new growth opportunities and realize first-hand the direct impact that economic development efforts have on the Baton Rouge area,” said Dennis Smith, Entergy Louisiana’s economic development project manager for the capital region.
Since 2010, Entergy has actively participated in 140 announced economic development projects in Louisiana totaling more than $77 billion in capital investments and nearly 18,000 new direct jobs. For 10 years running, Site Selection magazine named Entergy Corporation as one of the nation’s Top 10 Utilities in economic development.
In addition, Southern Business & Development magazine ranked Louisiana No. 2 in the South for the strongest economic development results during 2017. Also, Louisiana was awarded a 2018 Silver Shovel Award by Area Development magazine for achieving one of the best economic development performances in the U.S. during the past year.
Entergy Louisiana, LLC provides electric service to more than 1 million customers and natural gas service to nearly 93,000 customers in the greater Baton Rouge area. The company has operations in southern, central and northeastern Louisiana.
Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, including nearly 9,000 megawatts of nuclear power. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.9 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of approximately $11 billion and more than 13,000 employees.