Southeastern, St. Tammany Corporation formalize partnership to strengthen business outreach efforts in St. Tammany Parish
Thursday, December 17, 2020
by: Tonya Lowentritt
SOUTHEASTERN, ST. TAMMANY CORPORATION FORMALIZE PARTNERSHIP – St. Tammany Parish Development District Board President Marty Mayer, seated at left, and Southeastern Louisiana University President John L. Crain, seated at right, sign a formalized agreement to expand access to services and resources to the business community in St. Tammany Parish. Looking on, from left standing, are Northshore Technical Community College Chancellor William Wainwright, Director of the Louisiana Small Business Development Center at Southeastern Bill Joubert, and St. Tammany Corporation CEO Chris Masingill.
HAMMOND – Southeastern Louisiana University President John L. Crain and St. Tammany
Corporation CEO Chris Masingill recently formalized a coordinated effort to expand
access to services and resources to the business community in St. Tammany Parish through
an innovative agreement. The partnership will provide enhanced technical assistance
and increased collaborative efforts to best support businesses in St. Tammany Parish.
“We are proud to formally announce our ongoing partnership with the Louisiana
Small Business Development Center at Southeastern to continue the work we’ve been
doing collectively to strengthen and streamline business resource opportunities for
our existing businesses in St. Tammany,” said Masingill. “Economic development is
a team sport and creating stronger alignment and collaborations means more efficient
service delivery and responsiveness to businesses in St. Tammany Parish, specifically
our small business community. It is important that businesses have consistent access
to programs and resources to help meet their needs, especially as we all continue
to navigate the effects of the COVID-19 public health crisis.”
“One of the hallmarks of effective regional universities is a close alignment
of the mission of the institution and the needs of the region,” said Crain. “An integral
part of the mission of Southeastern is to support economic development across our
region, which includes St. Tammany Parish. The award-winning Louisiana Small Business
Development Center at Southeastern is one of the university’s most effective means
by which we bring this part of our mission to life. Through this agreement with St.
Tammany Corporation, I am thrilled to affirm Southeastern’s commitment to support
economic and business development in St. Tammany Parish. I look forward to continuing
to expand and enhance our support and services for businesses located here in conjunction
with our partners at St. Tammany Corporation.”
Through this agreement, partners will work toward accomplishing specific outcomes,
with the overarching goal being stronger businesses, more jobs, and a resilient economy.
Both organizations have an interest in strategically aligning support for the St.
Tammany Parish small business community. St. Tammany Corporation will serve as the
primary partner in St. Tammany Parish with LSBDC. St. Tammany Corporation and the
LSBDC will promote the joint efforts established under the agreement.
“Southeastern’s Small Business Development Center has been working closely with
St. Tammany Parish Development District for over 20 years,” said Director of the Louisiana
Small Business Development Center Bill Joubert. “When St. Tammany Corporation was
formed, Chris Masingill reached out to formalize our relationship and articulate the
ways to leverage our resources for St. Tammany businesses to continue benefitting
from our collective efforts. From projects and training to individual one-on-one business
consulting, our center stands ready to assist the community.”
The agreement establishes a framework for both agencies to facilitate its commitment
to move relationships with business and industry beyond a transactional level, but
truly build relationships, partnerships, and coalitions that are transformational,
creating an environment in which businesses can grow and people and communities in
St. Tammany can thrive.