You have to feel a bit sorry for this kid Knapp that Moret gave the Chamber job to after Moret jumped for more money working for a real government instead of a quasi-government entity. Knapp probably thought he’d follow in the steps of Moret, sell memberships, give a job fair or two, and then audition for Moret’s job when Moret goes to Washington as National Economic Development Tsar.

Now Knapp sees that things aint so sweet anymore with the Baton Rouge economy.  Housing market overbuilt. People moving back to New Orleans. Same old story.

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Knapp: Progress steady

The Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s new chief executive, Adam Knapp, sees strength and legs in the region’s economy despite the nation’s flirtation with recession since late 2007 and despite declining housing prices in metro markets on the East and West coasts.

The chamber exceeded its goals for jobs and capital investment in 2006 and 2007, Knapp said. BRAC should do the same in 2008, though it’s not halfway to the jobs goal at midyear.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/business/22748229.html

Who’s Who?

maurepas1 - 01 July 2008 03:09 PM

You have to feel a bit sorry for this kid Knapp that Moret gave the Chamber job to after Moret jumped for more money working for a real government instead of a quasi-government entity. Knapp probably thought he’d follow in the steps of Moret, sell memberships, give a job fair or two, and then audition for Moret’s job when Moret goes to Washington as National Economic Development Tsar.

Now Knapp sees that things aint so sweet anymore with the Baton Rouge economy.  Housing market overbuilt. People moving back to New Orleans. Same old story.

**************

Knapp: Progress steady

The Baton Rouge Area Chamber’s new chief executive, Adam Knapp, sees strength and legs in the region’s economy despite the nation’s flirtation with recession since late 2007 and despite declining housing prices in metro markets on the East and West coasts.

Knapp spoke to the Press Club of Baton Rouge on Monday, 71 days after succeeding state Economic Development Secretary Stephen Moret as BRAC’s leader and halfway through an ambitious five-year campaign — The Campaign for a Greater Baton Rouge — launched in late 2005.

The chamber exceeded its goals for jobs and capital investment in 2006 and 2007, Knapp said. BRAC should do the same in 2008, though it’s not halfway to the jobs goal at midyear.

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/business/22748229.html

Who’s Who?

I’d love to know how much of the speculative building was an outgrowth of the GO Zone bonds that the Feds gave us.

I’d love to know how much of the speculative building was an outgrowth of the GO Zone bonds that the Feds gave us.

No place recovered faster after Katrina than Baton Rouge. The leaders were smart, after surveying the condition their town was in, to grab every Go Zone application they could find to rebuild and recover. Because of that initiative you can drive all over Baton Rouge and see very few signs of Katrina.  New Orleans on the other hand hasn’t done as well.

maurepas1 - 01 July 2008 03:38 PM

I’d love to know how much of the speculative building was an outgrowth of the GO Zone bonds that the Feds gave us.

No place recovered faster after Katrina than Baton Rouge. The leaders were smart, after surveying the condition their town was in, to grab every Go Zone application they could find to rebuild and recover. Because of that initiative you can drive all over Baton Rouge and see very few signs of Katrina.  New Orleans on the other hand hasn’t done as well.

Of course, NO received catastrophic destruction. BR just lost some trees/tree limbs. And the 5 times I’ve been to NO since Katrina, I’ve seen varying levels of recovery. The Upper 9th/NOE and Lakeview are about 40% back. Downtown looks the same. As does Uptown. I just think NO has a ways to go, especially in light of those who’d rather fight change than participate in the recovery.

Re: Economic Development

Why should we all pay somebody to put a nightclub ... or anything ... downtown, when the rest of the the competing and similar businesses around town and state don’t get those “incentives”?  If they all move to a subsidized downtown, what are you going to put to replace their empty shells in Southdowns, Esplanade/Corporate BR, Fat City NO, MacArthur Blvd Alex, Youree at E Kings Hwy Shreveport, etc?  Why not let business make its own decisions?

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A group led by urban design firm Chan Krieger Sieniewicz has been selected to develop the second phase of Plan Baton Rouge, the city’s master plan for development. The team will look for ways to maximize private and public investment in downtown; specifically, they will recommend incentives to promote the growth of the newly designated Arts and Entertainment District.

http://www.businessreport.com/archives/daily-report/2008/jul/01/565/

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Note:  I have the same gripe about McCain’s $300 million for a good battery.  Who says batteries are the definitive technology of the future?  Marvin Ray-O-Vac??