The TOP of Louisiana Roadmap for Growth North Louisiana Economic Partnership

Table of Contents

About NLEP Page 4

Program of Work Page 5

Focus Industries Page 6

Major Wins Page 7

NLEP Staff Page 8

Board of Directors Page 9

Page 02 Letter from The President and Chairman

Positive momentum is propelling North Louisiana’s economy forward, fueled by new companies locating in our region and existing businesses expanding here. Our unique combination of strengths: abundance of low-cost natural resources; availability of certified shovel-ready sites; a robust multi-modal transportation infrastructure; and the lowest cost of doing business, as ranked by Forbes and KPMG Competitive Alternatives attract companies to our region. We want you to be part of this positive economic growth.

NLEP is a 501(c)(3) Accreditated Economic Development Organization dedicated to the positive and sustainable economic development of the 14 parishes it serves in North Louisiana. With our talented staff and engaged board of directors, NLEP is helping to sustain the upward growth of our regional economy. Under Regionalism Works (2012-2016), NLEP assisted companies in generating nearly 5,400 new jobs and more than $1.4 billion in capital investment. Our investors play a vital role in making North Louisiana an ideal business location. Their investment ensures we can continue to meet the needs of companies and support a competitive and diversified economy in North Louisiana.

We would like to invite you to join other local business leaders and organizations in their commitment to fostering long-term economic development growth. With this in mind, we ask you read and discuss with us the information enclosed in our Investor Booklet.

Please contact Ashley Busada, Director of Investor Relations, at 318.677.2508 or [email protected] for more information and to schedule a meeting about how your organization can support economic development in North Louisiana.

Thank you,

Scott Martinez, CEcD Ayres Bradford NLEP President NLEP Chairman

Page 03 NORTH LOUISIANA ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP Positioned for Economic Growth

MISSION

North Louisiana Economic Partnership (NLEP) is a public-private partnership dedicated to the positive and sustainable economic development of the 14 parishes it serves in North Louisiana. The NLEP and its many partners work with both existing and prospective companies to facilitate the attraction and retention of capital investment and meaningful job opportunities in our region.

VISION

North Louisiana will be a thriving region—a destination for high-quality talent, innovative companies, and global investment.

VALUE PROPOSITION

NLEP provides professional economic development services to the 14-parish region of North Louisiana, including lead generation and prospect management. The organization also represents the interests of North Louisiana with a unified voice and as a single point of contact. It acts as a catalyst, a convener, and a connector in the region to ensure that North Louisiana’s economic development potential is realized.

Page 04 PROGRAM OF WORK

STRATEGIC PLAN

Developed by nationally recognized, TIP Strategies, based in Austin, Texas, NLEP’s strategic plan provides a roadmap for NLEP and our region over the next five years. While guiding NLEP’s operations is an important piece of the plan, it also establishes a common vision, a set of goals, and a list of priorities for NLEP and its stakeholders. Having this guide for economic development can amplify the impact of region’s collaborations and collective action by ensuring everyone is working from the same playbook and towards the same end.

The plan is structured around a vision and the following three goals.

GOALS

The goals of a strategic plan support the vision and guiding principles. For North Louisiana, the planning team identified three goals:

GOAL 1 GOAL 2 GOAL 3 ECONOMIC TALENT ADVOCACY DEVELOPMENT A world-class program for A strong pipeline of talent A unified voice for economic fostering business to support current and development promoting attraction, retention, future employers the region expansion, and creation

Page 05 FOCUS INDUSTRIES

ADVANCE MANUFACTURING The manufacturing sector capitalizes on the region’s historic strengths in this area, as well as the growth from trends in foreign direct investment and re-shoring

Value-added Transportation Fabricated Petrochemical Ag Processing & Industrial Metals Machinery

PROFESSIONAL & IT Targeting professional and IT services supports the region’s transition to a knowledge economy and reinforces the region’s newer assets.

Cyber Security Business Support Data Centers Defense Services Intelligence

Page 06

Page 07

Page 02 REGIONALISM WORKS! Map of Major Regional Wins 5,400 Jobs! $1.4 Billion in Capital Investment

From 2012 to 2014

Fibrebond

MINDEN Integrico Composites

• 225 NEW JOBS SPRINGHILL • $2.5M CAP. INVESTMENT • 300 NEW JOBS • $20M CAP. INVESTMENT

Centric Pipe

BOSSIER Haynes International FedEx Distribution Center • 82 NEW JOBS ARCADIA MONROE • $32.5M CAP. INVESTMENT • 9-19 NEW JOBS • 30 NEW JOBS • $32M CAP. INVESTMENT • $21M CAP. INVESTMENT

Benteler Steel/Tube

PORT OF CADDO BOSSIER • 675 NEW JOBS • $975M CAP. INVESTMENT

Ronpak

PORT OF CADDO BOSSIER • HQ RELOCATION • 275 NEW JOBS Pulp Mill Service • $16.8M CAP. INVESTMENT MONROE • 50 NEW JOBS • $1.25M CAP. INVESTMENT Libbey, Inc. SHREVEPORT Hunt, Guillot & Associates • 70 NEW JOBS • $20M CAP. INVESTMENT RUSTON • 100 NEW JOBS

Module X Solutions Cool Planet Energy System SHREVEPORT • 357 NEW JOBS NATCHITOCHES PORT • $7.4 CAP. INVESTMENT • 25-30 NEW JOBS • $56M CAP. INVESTMENT

Lube-Tech

SHREVEPORT Idaho Timber RoyOMartin • 75 NEW JOBS COUSHATTA CHOPIN • $16M CAP. INVESTMENT • 90 NEW JOBS • 25 NEW JOBS • $4M CAP. INVESTMENT • $20M CAP. INVESTMENT

Page 07 NLEP STAFF

Scott Martinez, CEcD, NLEP President, has over a decade and a half of economic leadership. Scott holds a Bachelors degree from Ole Miss as well as a Master of Science degree in Economic Development from the University of Southern Mississippi. He is a Certified Economic Developer, as designated by the International Economic Development Council. Prior to joining NLEP, Scott led the Hutto Economic Development Corporation, which serves one of the fastest-growing suburbs in Texas in the Austin, Texas area. Martinez also developed and led economic development efforts in Round Rock, Texas and served as Associate Director of the Greater Conroe Economic Development Council in the Houston, Texas metro area for five years.

Angie White, CEcD, Senior Vice President of Administration & Existing Business, leads NLEP’s business retention and workforce development program. Angie is a Certified Economic Developer, as designated by the International Economic Development Council. She is a Shreveport native and a graduate of Centenary College. She earned her Master of Business Administration and Master of Arts in International Affairs from the George Washington University in Washington, D.C. For twelve years, she worked for a global private equity firm, focusing on Latin American infrastructure finance.

Christine Rambo, Senior Vice President of Communications & Business Development, directs NLEP’s business recruitment, communication strategies and marketing efforts. With more than 22 years of communications, marketing and economic development experience, Christine is focused on enhancing the brand awareness of NLEP and promoting positive perceptions of North Louisiana. Christine previously worked as the state marketing specialist for a statewide network of Louisiana Small Business Development Centers, and as an anchor/reporter for KTBS in Shreveport, LA and KNOE in Monroe, LA. She earned three Louisiana Associated Press Awards for her feature writing and investigative journalism. Christine graduated cum laude from The American University in Washington, D.C. with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications and is currently pursuing a Master of Business Administration from the University of Louisiana at Monroe.

Liz Pierre, JD, Senior Vice President of Legal and Research, is NLEP’s legal counsel and leads our research effort, which includes providing demographic, real estate and community information to site selectors and companies looking to locate or expand in North Louisiana. She also assists communities with identifying and certifying properties. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Southern University Law Center, and her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Liz is a graduate of the Economic Development Institute at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, Oklahoma.

Ashley Busada, Director of Investor Relations and Business Development leads investor communications and outreach with NLEP’s nearly 170 public and private investors. Ashley also assists with recruiting new employers to North Louisiana. Prior to joining NLEP, Ashley worked as the government relation’s director for the Bossier Chamber of Commerce. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Communications from the Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge.

Michele Riney, Director of Operations, manages the operational, human resources, and general fiscal activities of the NLEP. She is tasked with the responsibility of ensuring NLEP operates as efficiently as possible. Michele moved here from Dallas, Texas where she worked for Delta Airlines as an international reservations specialist. Her prior experience also included working as a database manager for Burnett’s Staffing; as a personal assistant for Dallas-based Ashwood Investments; and as a human resource/accounts payable specialist for Atlantic Industrial Services.

Page 08 NLEP BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Board Officers

Ayres Bradford Jim Hagan Jerry Allen Valarie Gunn Chair Chair-Elect Treasurer Secretary Lincoln Builders Balar Associates Centurylink Parish of Caddo Committee Chairs External Relations Committee Chair - Amanda Edge Capital Development Committe Co Chairs- Chap Breard and John Peak Program & Oversight Committee Chair – Mike Causey Finance Committee Chair- Jerry Allen Board of Directors

COMPANY BOARD MEMBER BOARD MEMBER COMPANY Frank Crockett AEP-Southwestern Electric Power Lynn Treadway Jackson Parish Industrial Board James A. Hagan Balar Associates, Inc. Steve Roop JP Morgan Chase Bank Brian Cowan Bradley Murchison Kelly & Shea Joe Kane Lamar Companies Wayne Brown Brown Builders Frank Russell Libbey David Smith Carter Federal Credit Union Ayres Bradford Lincoln Builders, Inc. Jerry Allen CenturyLink Bob Green M R Building Corp Thomas A. Boggs Citizens National Bank Ian McElroy McElroy Metal, Inc. Mayor Tommy Davis City of Minden Chap Breard MOEbiz Mayor Jamie Mayor City of Monroe Michael Newman Newman Marchive Carlisle, Inc. Randy LaCaze City of Natchitoches Jeff Harper North Webster Industrial District William C. Gnemi City of Ruston Bruce Roberts NW Louisiana Association of Realtors Mayor Ollie Tyler City of Shreveport Billy Cox O'Neal Gas Joey White Claiborne Electric Cooperative, Valarie Gunn Parish of Caddo Gil McKee CLECO Corporation Nelson Abell Poly Corr Lance Hall Community Trust Bank Todd Perry PPM Consultants Inc. Sid Cook Cook, Yancey, King, & Galloway, APLC Greg Lott Progressive Bank Lannie Philley Delta Land & Farm Management Co Rogers Prestridge Red River Waterway Commission Ron Barron Don M. Barron Contractor, Inc. Bill Sale Sale Commercial Properties Entergy Louisiana Amanda Edge Tom Scott Scott Powerline and Utility Equipment Hand Construction Adam Hubble U.L. Linc Coleman U.L. Coleman Companies Kenneth R. Beauvais Hardware Distribution Warehouses Michael Echols Vantage Health Plan Roy Prestwood Heard, McElroy, & Vestal Marty Wooldridge Ward II Industrial Board Joe Holyfield Holyfield Construction Sonny Moss Willis-Knighton Health System Mike Causey Hunt, Guillot, & Associates, LLC John Peak

Page 09 415 Texas Street 1900 North 18th Street Suite 320 Suite 501 Shreveport, Louisiana 71101 Monroe, Louisiana 71201 (318)677.2556 www.nlep.org

Thank you for considering an investment in NLEP for the advancement of economic development in North Louisiana.

Ashley Busada, [email protected] or 318-677-2508