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U.S. Economic Development Administration Announces $280,000 Investment to Support Business Development and Encourage Disaster Resiliency in Baton Rouge

Contact: EDA Public Affairs Department, (202) 482-4085
July 7, 2016


BATON ROUGE, La. – The U.S. Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA) today announced a $280,000 grant to the Research Park Corporation of Baton Rouge to advance its Ecosystem Mapping Initiative (Initiative). U.S. Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Economic Development Jay Williams made the announcement this morning at an event at South Central Louisiana Technical College in Reserve, La.

“The Obama administration is committed to ensuring that disaster-impacted communities are given the tools they need to diversify and grow their economies to encourage resiliency,” said Assistant Secretary Williams. “The Research Park Corporation’s Ecosystem Mapping Initiative will help diversify the Baton Rouge economy by simplifying how entrepreneurs, innovators and technology-driven companies connect to the financial and nonfinancial resources they need to prosper.”

The Ecosystem Mapping Initiative will develop an Ecosystem Portal of online tools that increase the visibility and access to resources and opportunities available to early stage companies. The Initiative will also organize a Power User Network of economic development professionals that use the Ecosystem Portal to directly assist early stage companies. Additionally, the Initiative will generate quarterly update reports documenting the impact of the Ecosystem Portal and Power User Network. The overarching goal of the Initiative is to strengthen, grow and diversify the Baton Rouge economy during and after disaster recovery periods.

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration
The mission of the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) is to lead the federal economic development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote American innovation, and accelerate long-term sustainable economic growth. To learn more about EDA, visit www.eda.gov.