In yet another innovative move, Shreveport Mayor Cedric B. Glover leads an effort to create a more effective and efficient economic development strategy for the City and Northwest Louisiana.

Mayor Glover’s visionary move brings to Shreveport a respected Team of experts in the field of economic development and beginning Monday July 28th, will spend three days meeting with city and business leaders, state and regional economic development representatives, realtors and development groups in a series of Stakeholders Meetings.

The dynamic Team of economic development consultants Ronnie Bryant, Mike Philpot, Jim Purgerson and David Dodd all played significant roles in creating a new wave of economic development in Shreveport back in the late ‘80s. While they have moved on to other cities, they continue to see great potential in their hometown. The Team has agreed to provide its consultation for expenses only and no professional or other fees.

Bryant, Philpot, Purgerson and Dodd will meet with more than sixty regional stakeholders and will gather input that will be formatted into a position paper on how the City should structure its downtown and economic development program in terms of organization, interaction and support of other various entities.

“As we continue to evaluate and restructure our economic development efforts, it is imperative that we get all of the players reading from the same play book,” says Mayor Glover. “In order for us to better compete and provide more jobs and work opportunities for our citizens, we must come together and develop a more unified and effective economic strategy for growth.”

The Stakeholders Meetings will be held at the Shreveport Hilton. Monday’s sessions are from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Tuesday July 29^th from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM and Wednesday July 30^th from 8:00 AM to 12 Noon.

Members of the media are invited to sit in on the Stakeholder Meeting Monday July 28^th at 11:30 AM.