Regus, Karla M. LopezWintech International, LLC, Jim Leslie

Sherwin Williams, Victoria LoomisHey Man! Let’s Eat!, Marty Bryan

Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe, Victor G. HassellCB&T Mortgage, Stacy Hooper

Serenity Spa & Nails, Duyen NguyenUniversity Veterinary Hospital, Matt Crotty

Panera Bread, Crystal WhyteAmerican Cancer Society, Krystal LettCB&I, Christopher C. Cerniauskas

Acorn to Oak Pediatrics, Bobbie CobbToadstone Media, Eric Rippetoe

Capitol City Produce, Anya Hudnall

Scott Equipment Company, Marc E. CwiklikThe Brown Law Firm, LLC, Shannon T. Brown

BNI - Lagniappe Chapter, Rodney CrewsBoot Barn, Janie Kneubuhl

Bossier Shoe Repair & Leather, Clara GuilloryMia Maria’s House of Grooming, Maria Digilormo

Robert Brown Plumbing, LLC, Heather BrownR360 Environmental Solutions, Bryant Whittington

Lawn Solutions, Joe NorrisLos Amigos, Manuel Padilla

WoodSpring Suites/Value Place, James Duggar IVBossier Magazine, LLC, Matthew Rimmer

O’Nealgas, Jimmy McConathyFigaro Photography, Brittany Figaro

710 BENTON ROAD · BOSSIER CITY, LA · 318.746-0252 · INFO@BOSSIERCHAMBER.COM · WWW.BOSSIERCHAMBER.COM

BossierChamber BulletinQuarterly Publication from the Bossier Chamber of Commerce | July 2016

Welcome to the Bossier Chamber of Commerce · Quarter 2 New Members

Military breakfast highlights excellenceAs a way to show support for the

military members in our local community during Military May, the Bossier Chamber of Commerce held its annual Military Appreciation Breakfast, presented by Barksdale Federal Credit Union on May 19, at Margaritaville Resort Casino. Approximately 300 people, one-third of whom were local military members themselves, came to show their support for those serving locally from all branches of the military.

KSLA’s Doug Warner emceed the event, which is aimed to educate the community about the local units serving in their back yard, and also provides insight into various jobs that military members perform each day. It may surprise some to know that in the Bossier-Shreveport community, there is local representation of nearly all branches of service — Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve, Navy Reserve, active duty Air Force and Air Force Reserve.

The Unit of Excellence Award, sponsored by Willis-Knighton Health System, is given to those that serve beyond the wing and gate level and was created to highlight the team approach to military service.

Four units were selected to receive the 2016 Unit of Excellence Award.

Unit of Excellence Award recipients were: • Headquarter and Headquarter

Company, 165th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, National Guard

• Inspector/Instructor, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 23d Marines, 4th Marine Division

• 8/95th Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 94th Training Division, Regiment Transportation Unit, Army Reserves

• 2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base

Headquarter and Headquarter Company, 165th Combat Sustainment Support

Battalion, National Guard

8/95th Battalion, 2nd Brigade, 94th Training Division, Regiment Transportation Unit, Army

Reserves

Inspector/Instructor, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 23d Marines, 4th Marine Division

2nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Barksdale Air Force Base

BossierChamber Bulletin · July 2016

The modern media landscape is very crowded. With the internet, news from around the world is no farther away than your fingertips. Multiple television channels are dedicated to a 24-hour news cycle. You can find trade publications and magazines on everything from airplanes to zoology. You’re only interested in SEC football, you say? Well, there’s an app for that.

Yes, the proliferation of media outlets has opened the world up to us. And if you don’t know what you’re looking for, just ask Siri or Google. They stand ready to help at a moment’s notice. Finding information is rarely a challenge in the modern world. Often the challenge is finding perspective.

Metro Leader offers a monthly perspective on your hometown from the people you trust most – your friends and neighbors. You will find plenty of interesting articles because they are written by people who are passionate about the same things you are. You’ll find information on upcoming community events that

are fun for young and old alike, like the Red River Balloon Rally and U.S. National Championship and the Red River Revel. We spotlight the civic and business leaders who are committed to making the community better. You’ll find tips on topics ranging from staying healthy to gardening. You can get an encouraging word each month from a member of the local faith community. And be sure to check out our photo galleries!

Because of our strategic, target delivery method, Metro Leader has the unique ability to customize a message based on a single ZIP code or the entire market.

Metro Leader delivers a glimpse into the world closest to you each month, right to your mailbox. We are here to connect you to your friends and neighbors, because we are all stronger when we live in community.

This column was provided by our editorial sponsor for the quarter, Metro Leader.

The overwhelming theme of the 2016 State of Bossier Address luncheon was that Bossier is definitely a city and parish that is growing. The sold-out event was held at the Hilton Garden Inn and sponsored by Gibsland Bank & Trust.

Dr. Wesley Hinze of Bossier Parish Community College was the keynote speaker, giving attendees a glimpse of Bossier trends, from population, family data and occupations. Most positively, Bossier is ahead of population growth projections and that population growth is in younger people, he added, with more people migrating to Bossier. The top industries are accommodations, retail and healthcare. And, the growth in jobs in Bossier is in middle class occupations. Additionally, the education level of families is leaning toward more educated households.

“This is a positive outlook for future conditions,” Hinze added.

Lisa Johnson, Bossier Chamber of Commerce President, was pleased to hear these trends, particularly that people are choosing to live and work in Bossier now more than ever.

“The statistics Dr. Hinze presented today fall in line with the vision of Bossier and our tagline #BossierInnovates,” Johnson said. “We’re ahead of the game.”

Bossier Parish Police Jury

President Wanda Bennett touted the parish leaders’ cooperation and dedication to working together diligently during the recent flooding, in 2015 of the Red River and local flooding in 2016. As the parish continues to see consistent growth, challenges are being addressed as well, she noted, particularly in infrastructure. Right now, the parish is finishing up a $55 million wastewater plant as well as conducting a study on prioritizing bridges for repair and replacement.

Both Bennett and Bossier City Mayor Lorenz “Lo” Walker talked about road improvements, and expansions, to meet the growing needs of the city and parish. Walker noted the city is in the last phase of its 30-year project to expand Shed Road to four lanes. Coming up, Viking Drive will become five lanes and the Arthur Ray Teague Parkway will continue north to Benton Road.

Bossier is on the grow

Want to be a featured member?

Email katie@bossierchamber.com

#MemberMonday

Louisiana Lawmakers have been in session from Valentine’s Day to just short of this Fourth of July

holiday, wrapping up a regular session and two special sessions.

With a budget shortfall to correct in both this year’s budget and

the 2016-17 budget starting July 1, the lawmakers had plenty of work to do and there seemed to be no sacred cows as TOPS was cut by 30 percent — no legislature has cut TOPS funding before.

Across the two special sessions, the legislature raised approximately $1.5 billion in new revenue from individuals and businesses alike. There were many new taxes that

took effect April 1 and the second session’s biggest hit to individuals was a reduction in a tax credit Louisiana homeowners receive on an assessment they pay to the state-run Citizens Property Insurance Company. It drops from a credit of 72 percent of the assessment to 25 percent.

Area wins from the Legislative session:n Funding for the Louisiana Tech Research Institute was back in HB2 at the end, after being cut earlier in the regular session. n The LSU Health Shreveport School of Medicine gained $4 million extra dollars from the new revenue from the special sessions. While the school asked for close to $30 million, the amount will overall become $10 million as $6 million is coming via an Interagency Transfer from DHH, from a fund for Medical Vendor Payments. n The Jimmie Davis Bridge went

from a rehab mission, to off the docket, to a completely new, four-lane bridge plan throughout the course of the 2016 sessions.

Changes abound for businesses, including these:n Sales Tax on Materials for Further Processing HB27 by Rep. Chris Broadwater, R-Hammond, applies sales tax on materials for further processing in manufacturing. The legislation substantially limits the longstanding exclusion on these types of business inputs. n Industrial Tax Exemption / Inventory Tax Credit SB10 by Sen. Rick Ward, R-Port Allen, converts the state inventory tax credit from a refundable credit to a non-refundable credit with a five-year carryforward provision for taxes paid on inventory by manufacturers that also receive the ad valorem industrial tax exemption. n Inventory Tax Credit

SB6 by Sen. J.P. Morrell, D-New Orleans, restores 100 percent of the refundable inventory tax credit for small and medium-sized Louisiana businesses. The bill also eliminates refundability for inventory tax credits more than $1 million and instead establishes a five-year carryforward provision.

Another change for businesses this year is the new federal overtime regulation changes, which will take effect Dec. 1, 2016. The final rule, straight from the Department of Labor, updated the salary and compensation levels for executive, administrative and professional workers to be considered exempt employees. The Chamber has hosted two webinars from our Chamber partners to help employers learn more about the ruling and is here to assist businesses learn more. Check out www.dol.gov for the key provisions of the final rule.

BossierChamber Bulletin · July 2016

Business, area feel changes from legislation

2016 Golf ClassicThe Bossier Chamber of

Commerce’s 2016 Golf Classic was a huge success, especially because of all of our great sponsors who showed up in full force to help the golfers go Around the World in 18 holes.

First Flight Winners1st Place: Wilhite Electric (pictured above)

2nd Place: Lawn Solutions3rd Place: Gibsland Bank and Trust

Second Flight Winners1st Place: Eagle Distributing (pictured above)

2nd Place: Omni Specialty Packaging3rd Place: Bobby L. Green Plumbing

Closest to the Pin: Mike Walton; Longest Drive: Nancy Lasuzzo

Michelle CavanaughDirector of Government

Relations

710 Benton Road · Bossier City, LA 71111EMAIL info@bossierchamber.com

WEB www.bossierchamber.com · www.bossierinnovates.com

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#BossierInnovates

SAVE THE DATE2016 BOSSIER CHAMBER UPCOMING EVENTS

CONTACT THE BOSSIER CHAMBER FOR INFORMATION ON EVENTS LISTED HEREinfo@bossierchamber.com · 746-0252 · www.bossierchamber.com

Barksdale Commanders AssemblyTuesday, July 12, 2016, 11:30 a.m.

Hilton Garden InnTickets $40

Community members are invited to attend this highlight event to learn about all of the major

happenings at Barksdale Air Force Base.

New Teachers LuncheonMonday, August 1

Sponsorships - $150You can sponsor this “Thank You” luncheon to welcome new teachers to Bossier Parish Schools. During the luncheon, teachers are given start-up

materials through support of the business community.

State of EducationThursday, August 25, 7:30 a.m.

BPSTILTables $550; Tickets $35

Come hear NEW Bossier Schools Superintendent Scott Smith give a “State of the Schools” Address on

the successes and challenges facing our schools.

After HoursThursday, August 25, 5-7 p.m.

Bossier Council on AgingMembers $5; Non-members $10

Networking at its finest, After Hours brings together a crowd of the area’s business professionals for an opportunity to connect and grow their business.

Patriot AwardsWednesday, September 7, 11:30 a.m.

Bossier Civic CenterTables $800; Tickets $45

Join us as we recognize courageous men and women who serve as Bossier Parish law enforcement, fire/

EMS teams and military personnel.

Morning BlendThursday, September 22, 2016. 8 a.m.

Azalea HallMembers $15; Non-members $20

Speed Networking with a twist - join us for this new and fresh way to build your business database in a

time-efficient manner. Breakfast included!

Fall Veterans Job & Resource FairThursday, Sept. 22, 2016, 12-4 p.m.

Bossier Civic CenterVendors can sign up for free booth space for this job fair targeted toward retired, separated, and reserve military members and their dependents online at

bossierchamber.com/military.

2016 Regional Legislative Forumfeaturing Gov. John Bel Edwards

Tuesday, August 2311:30 a.m. at the Bossier Civic Center

For more information, contact michelle@bossierchamber.com