The GBEDF is thankful to its partners and for the opportunity to host the Dallas Federal Reserve in the region. It is important that northwest Louisiana is both represented and engaged in open dialogue of monetary policy discussion. Our region is home to critical industries which help to sustain not only the local economy but also contributes to the wider health of the U.S. economy.  Opportunities such as these allow us to better understand and discover new ways in which our local industries can contribute on the global scale.