ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AGENDA & COMMUNITY INVESTMENT

The Greater Bossier Economic Development Foundation (GBEDF) is the leadership organization for economic development in Bossier City and Bossier Parish. Our goal is to position Bossier to be competitive in securing new jobs and investment. Beyond our partnership with local governments, we also support regional efforts sponsored by the Port of Caddo Bossier, BRF, Cyber Innovation Center, Barksdale Air Force Base, NLCOG and the CDC in order to diversify our local economy.

We place emphasis on funding projects and initiatives that create jobs for the local economy. Our community investment impacts workforce development, manufacturing, quality of life, infrastructure upgrades, and assists Bossier’s rural communities in economic development.

Over the past three decades, the GBEDF has impacted the community by enhancing business development in our regional economy thanks to our stewardship of investment dollars entrusted to us by our membership and the local business community. Below is a brief snapshot of a few of GBEDF’s investments in the community throughout our history:

WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT // $750,000 investment in education and training
GBEDF supports workforce development and education initiatives from K-12 all the way through higher education. Over the past 10 years alone we have invested nearly $750,000 in innovative, local education projects such as the Center for Advanced Manufacturing at BPCC and the Bio Tech Program at Bossier High School.

INFRASTRUCTURE AND LOCAL BUSINESS // $452,318 investment in infrastructure for business
Manufacturers, businesses and consumers benefit from infrastructure investments and developments. The GBEDF has provided nearly half a million dollars over the last decade to local businesses needing upgrades to enhance production. Working through Bossier City, the foundation has funded various projects such as the Viking Drive Expansion and the Commerce Park Road and Drainage. The foundation actively supports long-range plans for the I-49 and I-69 corridors.

JOB CREATION // $523,000 investment for job creation and retention
The GBEDF supports existing industries crucial for the diversification of our local economy. GBEDF is an active partner on the issues involving the health and strength of Barksdale Air Force Base and was critical in the development of the foundation of Bossier City’s National Cyber Research Park and the Cyber Innovation Center. The GBEDF also partners with incubators like Cohab across the region to help nurture “homegrown” talent. The foundation has also provided the funds for economic impact studies that help the City and Parish to plan for future trends. Businesses may not know how incubators function, as well as its opposite – accelerators, this is where helpful sites such as https://earlygrowthfinancialservices.com/difference-between-incubators-accelerators/ can come in useful for those who need clarity.

QUALITY OF LIFE AND TOURISM // $675,000 investment in quality of life events and regional promotion
Quality of life issues are critical to economic development. The type of community that will attract and retain a productive workforce and be suitable for long term commercial investments must be one that demonstrates a commitment to culture and recreation. Tourism and entertainment also play a significant role in economic development. GBEDF sponsors events such as the Walk Ons Independence Bowl, Rockets Over the Red, and the Barksdale Air Show to stimulate travel and tourism activity. GBEDF has invested in a digital presence for Bossier with the recent production of an area quality of life video used by our members to recruit employees to the area for companies like General Dynamics IT (formerly CSRA).