Ballista Storm Systems, LLC Opens In Jefferson Parish
03/26/2010
Contact Information: Darren Alberti
Greater New Orleans, Inc. is pleased to announce the opening of Ballista Storm Systems, LLC in Jefferson Parish.
Headed by Charles Zimmer, the firm developed and now sells hurricane protection systems specially designed to shield high-rise waterfront properties and ground-level storefronts from severe hurricanes without compromising a building’s aesthetics.
The company anticipates creating up to 10 new jobs within a year and has already made an impact in the local economy by hiring a number of regional firms to consult in engineering, manufacturing, marketing and distributing Ballista’s new StormShear product.
“The opening of Ballista Storm Systems, LLC in Jefferson is not only a well deserved win for the parish, but also continues to build our region’s growing position as a center of sustainable industries and weather management,” said GNO, Inc. President & CEO Michael Hecht.
GNO, Inc. partnered with the Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) to recruit the company to the New Orleans region.
“Successfully landing Ballista Storm Systems in Jefferson Parish highlights how GNO, Inc. and JEDCO can work in tandem to ensure the continued growth of the Greater New Orleans region,” said Lucien Gunter, JEDCO’s Executive Director.
The two organizations worked in concert to help Ballista select a site for their operations and monetize state tax incentives. The firm intends to make full use of Louisiana’s Research & Development Tax Credit and Quality Jobs program.
Ballista Storm Systems is the newest addition to the region’s bustling small business community, which has helped keep the area’s unemployment level well below national averages despite a global economic downturn.
“Ballista’s entry into our region is a clear indicator of how strong our business climate has become,” said James Hudson, GNO, Inc. Chairman and Chairman & CEO of OMNI BANK. “They clearly saw the strategic advantages of our region and we are proud to welcome them to Greater New Orleans.”
The company will offer their StormShear products throughout the Gulf Coast, but will base their offices in Jefferson Parish. “The New Orleans region provided all the inspiration and resources needed to invent and develop a new type of storm protection,” Ballista Storm Systems’ President Charles Zimmer said. “The Ballista StormShear will meet the world’s most stringent testing protocols, while maintaining the aesthetic value of the property. The company’s mission is to provide commercial designers and owners in places like New Orleans the ability to maintain local design character when incorporating storm protection into their properties.”
Ballista Storm Systems, LLC is located at 660 Distributors Row, Suite, D, in Elmwood. For more information about this new business and their product, visit www.ballistastorm.com.
