Versa Clark: Homemade Business

I recently watched a video of a local economic development representative who is seriously concerned about how to move the region forward through an economic development strategy. Regionally, healthcare is the fastest growing industry and offers great opportunities for some professional healthcare carriers. The panel briefly talked about other Amazon-like developments that require sweetener tax incentives and other incentives to attract these businesses / industries to the region. What I didn’t hear was that local resources could be used to develop my own business and industry.

A few years before Covid hit the area. We worked hard to get the industrial hemp industry up and running. This is what I call the ideal homemade business / industry. The land of Louisiana excels in the growth of this bast fiber plant. Not only is the soil rich in nitrogen, it is also non-acidic and can be designed into well-drained soil, which is all that is needed for a successful venture. The processing plant can be located very close to the farmer, reducing the cost of transporting the harvested crops. The manufacturing plant can be located near the city center with a good transportation system for workers. Currently, there are over 50,000 uses for plants / fibers, and access to research universities can further increase the uses (patents) of all types of consumer products.

Hemp has been used as a fiber in clothing for at least 10,000 years. Hemp is one of the strongest and most durable of all fibers. It keeps its shape well, and it does not require herbicides or pesticides to produce. It also has antibacterial properties that better protect the skin and is ideal for medical scrubs.

Hemp-based building materials are often more powerful than petroleum-based products. Building materials made from hemp core fibers include plastics, fiberboard, wallboards, roof tiles, insulation, panels and even bricks.

Plastics made from hemp and other organic substances are non-toxic and biodegradable. The reason virtually all European carmakers are switching to hemp-based door panels, columns, seatbacks, bootlinings, floor consoles, instrument panels, and other external components is that hemp-based products are lighter and accidental. Because it is safer and more recyclable. , And more durable.

Another homemade business / industry is the manufacture of solar-powered street lights. The Umbrella Union, a group of neighborhood associations, is working on a proposal to manufacture (locally) solar-powered street lights. This idea was promoted after Proposal 1 (Public Security) of the 2021 Bond Proposal was passed. At the bottom of the list was a streetlight for $ 5 million. This is a bit deceptive as it is for cameras / sensors as part of a security strategy. Umbrella’s proposals have key goals of job creation, cost savings (city electricity bills), and crime prevention.

Some existing facilities (GE and GM) have unused space, a trainable workforce, the ability to acquire skills to carry out manufacturing, and continuous improvement of products. Given the research (La. Tech), job creation is not that difficult. , Battery life, LED light life, etc. Lights can be installed throughout the city, saving significant electricity bills. The poles with street lights belong to the city, and the sensors and cameras that the city’s security team wants to install can be installed with fewer questions, making security easier.

This proposal is in line with Governor John Bel Edwards’ recommendations for the Climate Action Plan on the Transition to Clean Energy and should be reasonably viewed and considered.

Versa Clark:How can the African-American Middle Class in Shreveport take advantage of Buildback Better?

Minority business development could be another homemade business / industry. This can be achieved through the newly established Roy Griggs School of Business in SUSLA. Active internship / apprentice-based, including partnerships with Shreveport Boger African American Chamber (SBAAC), MSI (Minority Supplier Institute), Caddo Parish School (Booker T. Washington HS), and Shreveport City Economic Development By designing the curriculum department, it will give a better chance for the program to succeed.

SBAAC can target and hire existing successful businesses that volunteer to be the source of internship / apprenticeship programs and request assistance from the Great Shreveport Chamber of Commerce to get the volunteers they need. .. MSI can achieve many of its goals by partnering with SBAAC during business development and even after the business is established.

By establishing an AP Business Curriculum at Booker T. Washington HS, the program not only provides potential students at Griggs Business School with business insights, but also earns college credits applicable to Associates in Business Administration. Gives an opportunity. Business management.

The role of the Shreveport City Department of Economic Development has been simplified if the Build Back Better Act has been passed. Under BBB Act, President Biden wants to launch a special and ongoing initiative to enable black, Latino, AAPI, and Native American entrepreneurs to succeed and grow on three small business opportunity plans. I was thinking. The original plan was to fund successful state and local investment initiatives and make highly effective new market tax credits permanent, adding over $ 50 billion to black and brown entrepreneurs. It was to stimulate public-private venture capital.