In June 2014, the North Louisiana Economic Partnership (NLEP) adopted its five-year strategic plan, developed with the assistance of TIP Strategies. The plan was created to serve as a roadmap for the organization under the leadership of NLEP President, Scott Martinez, CEcD.

TIP’s principal and CEO, Tom Stellman, recently attended NLEP’s Annual Meeting to provide an update on plan implementation and outcomes to the organization’s Board of Directors. Tom was happy to report that the staff at NLEP has been fully engaged and fully committed to the plan.

NLEP’s initial successes include: 1) designation as Accredited Economic Development Organization by IEDC; 2) hosting the inaugural Top Skills Workforce Summit; 3) capturing 212 million media impressions, and landing projects representing over $40 million in new investment.

In the first year, NLEP raised additional funds to support implementation, including additional staff. They also increased stakeholder engagement, adding almost 30 new investors. They modified their by-laws and staffing structure to align with the strategic plan recommendations. With this enhanced implementation structure in place, they set out to achieve the vision laid out in the plan.

NLEP strengthened their economic development marketing campaign and built staff capacity in key industry sectors. They hosted the inaugural Top Skills Workforce Summit and continued to work with partners to improve the alignment of regional education and training resources with employers’ needs. They also put in place the structure for launching a regional advocacy program.

Image credit: Downtown Shreveport, LA by Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau via Flickr (CC BY 2.0)