Legislative leaders part of LABI panel

Newly elected Louisiana Senate President Page Cortez, R-Lafayette, and House Speaker Clay Schexnayder, R-Gonzales, will discuss policy goals and challenges for the upcoming legislative session and look ahead to the next four years of their terms during a Feb. 11 panel discussion at the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry Annual Meeting in Baton Rouge.

The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. at the Crowne Plaza Executive Center, 4728 Constitution Ave.

The theme is “Building a New Main Street” and what it takes to do business in today’s Louisiana economy, said LABI President and CEO Stephen Waguespack.

“We will dive into critical issues like legal reform and education, among others, and hear their governing plans for the upcoming session,” Waguespack said. “These lawmakers have been allies during their years at the capitol, and we at LABI look forward to working with them both as we continue to advocate for our members and job creators across Louisiana.”

The luncheon keynote speaker will be cybersecurity and fraud prevention expert Frank Abagnale, whose career as a rogue-turned-FBI-expert was made famous by his book and the Stephen Spielberg film “Catch Me If You Can.”

Registration and tickets are at labi.org/events.

Keep La. Beautiful seeking grant applicants

Keep Louisiana Beautiful is accepting letters of intent for its 2020-21 Healthy Community Grant program by March 2.

Grant funds of $2,500 to $8,000 per project are available to encourage community action in the areas of litter and waste reduction, recycling, reuse, litter enforcement and environmental education.

The program is open to nonprofit organizations, governmental agencies, schools and universities, KAB affiliates and precertified affiliates. A letter of intent is required in applying for the Healthy Communities Grant. After a first selection round, applicants will be invited to submit a formal application, due April 1. The funding cycle for the Healthy Communities Grant will run from Aug. 1, 2020, to May 1, 2021.

Information is at keeplouisianabeautiful.org.

Addiction center partners with MCOs

Lake Wellness Center, a Lafayette-based addiction treatment center with locations throughout south Louisiana, has expanded statewide access to its services by partnering with various Medicaid Certified Organizations.

Louisiana has five MCOs: Aetna Better Health Louisiana, AmeriHealth Caritas of Louisiana, Healthy Blue, Louisiana Healthcare Connections and United Healthcare Community Plan. Partnerships with MCOs enable Lake Wellness Center to expand access to treatment services.

Lake Wellness Center has eight locations, including Lafayette, Covington, Houma, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Lake Charles, Destrehan and Metairie.

Intellectual property seminar scheduled

A seminar on intellectual capital has been scheduled from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Feb. 11 at the Northshore Technical Community College STEM Campus, 65556 Centerpoint Blvd., in Lacombe.

The seminar, “Protecting Your Company’s Intellectual Property: What Every Business Needs to Know,” is being held by Southeastern Louisiana University’s Small Business Development Center in collaboration with the St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce and the Law Firm Carver Darden.

Topics include the definition of intellectual property, general intellectual property law, patents, trademarks, copyright and trade secrets, and how to use intellectual property to build and protect competitive advantages.

The cost is $5 for St. Tammany Chamber members and $10 for nonmembers. Lunch is included.

To register, contact Hope Walley at (985) 273-3008 or hope@sttammanychamber.org.

Workshop scheduled on commercial gardens

Gardeners who want to learn how to move up from a home garden to a commercial enterprise can hear tips and strategies from experts at a horticulture workshop from 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Feb. 5 at the Delhi Civic Center, 232 Denver St., in Delhi.

The free LSU AgCenter workshop topics include food safety, the Louisiana MarketMaker Program, marketing vegetables, upscaling gardens and Food Safety Moderation Act rules.

Information is available at drlee@agcenter.lsu.edu or (318) 559-1459.

Central Region crops, cattle forum set

The LSU AgCenter will host a Central Region crops and cattle forum Feb. 18 at the State Evacuation Shelter in Alexandria.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m., with presentations starting at 9 a.m, and concluding with a sponsored lunch.

The program will showcase the diversity of agriculture production in the central region, focusing on expanded research efforts in beef cattle and provide updates on field crop programs.

Topics include weed and disease management strategies; corn hybrid and cotton variety selection; bull management; reproductive strategies for improving herd development; redbanded stink bug control; identification and control of weeds in pastures and hay meadows; and pesticide drift management, pollinator protection and worker protection standards and record keeping.

The meeting is approved for recertification for Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry Private Pesticide Applicator cards that expire March 31, requiring a $15 AgCenter registration fee from producers who wish to recertify. A $25 registration recertification fee is also required from LDAF and will be collected separately from the AgCenter fee.

No registration fees are required for attendees who do not intend to recertify.

Information is available at jdufour@agcenter.lsu.edu or (318) 542-8045.

Hispanic Chamber receives $100K grant

Verizon has presented a $100,000 grant to the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana in support of its various workforce and enrichment programs available in New Orleans and throughout the state.

The Hispanic chamber said it is leading efforts in making New Orleans and Louisiana more inclusive and diversified by serving a growing and underserved Hispanic population through an expansion of its Bilingual Workforce Training and Business Development Program and the Financial Capacity Building Series.

Verizon has joined forces with the organization to help build programming focused on digital literacy, technology workforce development, and science, technology, math and engineering education to prepare more people for careers in a digitized workforce.

Rouge Skillet opens on Exchequer Drive

Rouge Skillet has opened at 6721 Exchequer Drive in Industriplex in Baton Rouge.

The restaurant is open for breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday, with lunch specials each day. Hours are 6 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for breakfast and 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for lunch.

Breakfast ranges from English muffins and eggs and Texas toast sandwiches to a breakfast bowl, tacos, biscuits and gravy and boudin and beignets. Served at lunch are various appetizers, a variety of sandwiches, chicken fajita tacos, fried chicken tenders, skillet boudin burger, stuffed poblano pepper and house salad, plus sides.

The phone is (225) 218-4386.