Central Louisiana boosters see some success, much opportunity

By Jeff Matthews • jmatthews@thetowntalk.com •
August 22, 2010

A Virginia-based customer-service company
announced earlier this month that it will hire 200
people in Central Louisiana to work from home.

N.E.W. Customer Service Companies handles service
plans for retail giants such as Walmart, Toys R Us
and Kmart. It is hiring people for work-at-home,
customer-service jobs.

It's the kind of announcement some in Central
Louisiana don't think comes frequently enough.

"It's definitely 'What have you done for me lately?'"
said Rick Ranson, vice president of economic
development for the Central Louisiana Chamber of
Commerce. "If you get a Union Tank Car [which
located to the area in 2006], they get off you for a
while. Then it's back to 'What are you guys doing
over there?'"

Ranson has an optimistic view of the region's
economic future, but knows announcements like the
one made by N.E.W. are how most people judge
economic development. He and others argue that
the region has had its share of "wins" in recent
years.

More here: http://www.thetowntalk.com/article/20100822/NEWS01/8220336/1002/Central-Louisiana-boosters-see-some-success--much-opportunity