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July 1, 2010

ULM hosts North Louisiana Economic Partnership and business consultant

The University of Louisiana recently hosted representatives from the North Louisiana Economic Partnership and a top consultant with nearly two decades of experience in advising corporations on location selection issues and implementing relocation and expansion plans.

The NLEP, in its mission to promote the 14-parish region of North Louisiana, brought consultant Kate McEnroe to tour area universities, including ULM. Her firm assists economic development organizations in planning and managing effective programs.

"We wanted to familiarize Kate with what the region has to offer- specifically the biomedical and health-related programs going on here in North Louisiana," said Kurt Foreman, president of NLEP.

"As a top site selector, Kate has influence on where companies locate or expand. We wanted her to remember that North Louisiana isn’t just a manufacturing and oil/gas powerhouse, but that it also offers innovative and high tech programs that pharmaceutical or other types of health-related companies could take advantage of.”

McEnroe toured the University of Louisiana at Monroe’s College of Pharmacy and the College of Health Sciences. ULM Pharmacy faculty briefed her on their latest developments, including research on how a form of vitamin E called gamma-tocotrienol could prevent or inhibit cancers, the link between high fat diets and cancer, development of new drug formulations from natural herbs and marine plants, and research on Alzheimer’s, arthritis and the early detection of prostate cancer.

McEnroe also heard an update from Dean Denny Ryman, Ph.D., on new initiatives at the College of Health Sciences, visited the renovated School of Nursing building and toured the College’s brand new state-of-the-art mobile dental unit.

“We appreciate the opportunity to discuss how ULM can partner with NLEP to create a better economy in the region, and we look forward to developing the ideas produced on Thursday. There are many ways to benefit new or existing industries by capitalizing on the intellectual capital of ULM's faculty, staff, and students, along with ULM's physical resources. We're going to do everything we can to ensure this progressive collaboration succeeds,” said Dr. Eric Pani, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs.

McEnroe also toured Louisiana Tech University’s Biomedical Engineering Program and the Institute of Micromanufacturing in Ruston, and BioSpace1, a Shreveport high-tech incubator, supported by the Biomedical Research Foundation. She also met with senior leadership from LSU Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Northwestern State University, Bossier Parish Community College, Southern University Shreveport (SUSLA), LSU Shreveport, and Grambling State University.

“While I had visited North Louisiana many years ago, I didn’t have a chance to examine all the innovations and high tech program in the region. This was an eye-opening visit. The assets I learned about during this tour are invaluable to the region,” said Kate McEnroe.

This marketing initiative was funded by the Alliance Partners through a Tier I marketing grant from Louisiana Economic Development to showcase the region. NLEP is the administrator of the grant.

NLEP is a nonprofit, regional economic development organization, dedicated to promoting the 14-parishes of North Louisiana for job creation and capital investments.

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