Statewide Business Community Creates Higher Education Reform Coalition
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 10, 2010
Contact Information: Darren Alberti
BATON ROUGE, LA — Greater New Orleans, Inc. is pleased to announce the creation of a statewide coalition of business organizations focused on strategic higher education reform.
Forming under the acronym BILD: Higher Education (Businesses for Improving Louisiana’s Development), over thirty business entities representing all areas of the state have joined to advocate for improvements in Louisiana’s higher education system. The recommendations set forth by the BILD coalition are designed to encourage the development of a strong economic foundation for the state.
“Reforming Louisiana’s higher education system is a top priority of the business community as we develop a 21st century economy,” said Michael Hecht, President & CEO of Greater New Orleans, Inc. “Our organization has joined the BILD coalition, along with over thirty other business groups around Louisiana, to advance the necessary reforms to improve the system’s performance, and better meet the needs of our region’s workforce.”
BILD: Higher Education outlined its platform at a press conference today in Baton Rouge, citing four specific reforms:
- Implementing the performance-funding formula proposed by the Louisiana Board of Regents
- Raising admission standards at four-year institutions
- Granting sole authority to adjust self-generated revenue to the system’s management boards
- Establishing “centers of excellence” at Louisiana Community and Technical College System (LCTCS) campuses and eliminating unproductive and duplicative programs
The coalition invited other business groups that wish to partner on these reform goals to join its effort. Moving forward, the coalition will seek to garner legislative support for its platform and establish close partnerships with the Louisiana Board of Regents, the state’s college and universities, and other higher education interests.
At the time of its announcement, BILD: Higher Education partners included:
Acadiana Economic Development Council
Ascension Chamber of Commerce
Baton Rouge Area Chamber
Blueprint Louisiana
Bossier Chamber of Commerce
Business Council of New Orleans & the River Region
Cenla Advantage Partnership
Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce
Council for a Better Louisiana
East Feliciana Economic Development District
East St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce
Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce
Greater New Orleans, Inc.
Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce
Jefferson Business Council
Jefferson Chamber of Commerce
Jefferson Parish Economic Development Commission
Lafayette Economic Development Authority
Livingston Economic Development Council
Louisiana Committee of 100
Monroe Chamber of Commerce
Northshore Business Council
Plaquemines Association of Business and Industry
River Region Chamber of Commerce
Ruston-Lincoln Chamber of Commerce
South Central Industrial Association
South Louisiana Economic Council
Southwest Louisiana Economic Development Alliance
St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce
St. Helena Parish Office of Economic Development
St. Tammany Healthcare Alliance
St. Tammany West Chamber of Commerce
Terrebonne Economic Development Authority
