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| For Immediate Release: |
November 5, 2009 |
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Contact Information:
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Austin Marks
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GNO, Inc. and River Parish Partners Host Regional Familiarization Tour
National Site Selectors Learn about Business Development Opportunities in GNO Region
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From November 4th-6th, Greater New Orleans, Inc. and business partners in St. Charles, St. James, and St. John the Baptist Parishes will host a group of the nation's leading site selectors on a Familiarization Tour of the 10-parish Greater
New Orleans region. Site selectors are consultants who offer guidance and insight on where a company should locate for business expansion or relocation. The Familiarization Tour, or FAM Tour, is intended to educate these individuals on the assets and opportunities available in the Greater New
Orleans region, in an effort to promote the region as a viable market for business growth. The three-day tour will focus on GNO, Inc.'s target industries: Advanced Manufacturing, Creative and Digital Media, Energy, and International Trade.
"Our region has an extraordinary range of natural assets, as well as lucrative incentives - not to mention billions of dollars in new investment - that make it one of the most compelling places in the country for business expansion," says Michael Hecht, President and CEO of GNO, Inc. "The FAM Tour
offers a platform on which to highlight these regional positives while also gaining insight as to the challenges that lie before us."
Over the course of the three days, the site selectors will be introduced to key industry executives and economic development officials and will participate in roundtable discussions on the region's assets and growth trend opportunities. GNO, Inc. has arranged for tours of some of the region's most
successful facilities as well as a guided aerial tour so that the site selectors can view the assets from above.
Some of our regional assets include:
Multimodal Transportation and Distribution: largest port complex in the world, major highways, international airport, all six Class 1 railroads operating in North America, and a strategic location at the mouth of the Mississippi River
Incentives: Gulf Opportunity Zone federal tax incentives, lucrative job-based incentives, equalized overall taxes for expansion
Workforce: high schools, colleges and universities offer programs specifically focused in regional strength industries, may of our workers are cross-trained
But some of our assets can't be seen or touched. They must be experienced.
"We want these site selectors to experience first-hand both the business and personal opportunities of the region. These site selectors will have the chance to speak with the executives whose businesses are thriving, because of their decision to locate here in the region. They'll also have a
chance to experience our most unique regional asset: our quality of life," states Hecht. "From our low cost of living to the cuisine to the rich musical and cultural heritage, the Greater New Orleans region offers a quality of life that can't be experienced anywhere else in the world."
Greater New Orleans, Inc. will spice up the FAM Tour with several lunches and dinners at the region's best restaurants and will finish the three day event off with a trip to The Arena for a New Orleans Hornets game.
"The foremost goal of the FAM Tour is to begin a sustainable dialogue and working relationship with these key site selection firms, so that they may begin communicating to their clients that the Greater New Orleans region is an area ripe with opportunity."
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About Greater New Orleans, Inc.
The GNO, Inc. Mission is to serve as the catalyst for wealth creation in the Greater New Orleans region. GNO, Inc. will accomplish this by pursuing an aggressive agenda of business development - marketing the region - and product development - improving regional business conditions through
policy, workforce and research initiatives.
The GNO, Inc. Vision is for the Greater New Orleans region to fulfill its potential as one of the best places in the country to grow a company, and raise a family. The ultimate indication of success for GNO, Inc. will be the presence of a robust and growing middle class in southeastern Louisiana.
More information can be found at www.gnoinc.org.
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365 Canal Street, Suite 2300, New Orleans, LA 70130
Phone: 504.527.6900
Fax: 504.527.6970
www.gnoinc.org
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