Business Briefs for June 28, 2009

• Advocate business staff
• Published: Jun 28, 2009

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Agritourism show

The LSU AgCenter and the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry will present an Agritourism Roadshow this summer.

Agritourism is a business venture on a working farm, ranch or agricultural enterprise that offers educational and fun experiences for visitors while generating supplemental income for the owner.

The roadshow is suggested for farmers looking to diversify their business to add supplemental income or seeking new agricultural alternatives to keep farm workers employed during the off-season, and educators interested in sharing their knowledge of farm experiences.

The roadshow dates for locations in the Baton Rouge area are:

--Aug. 27, 10 a.m.-noon at the LSU AgCenter’s Hammond Research Station, 21549 Old Covington Highway in Hammond.

--Oct. 6, 10 a.m.-noon at the LSU AgCenter’s Rice Research Station/Southwest Regional Office, 1373 Caffey Road in Rayne.

The roadshows are free and no registration is required. For more information, contact Dora Ann Hatch at (318) 927-9654 or dhatch@agcenter.lsu.edu

Grant program

The Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry is administering a new grant program to fund projects that enhance the competitiveness of specialty crops like fruits, vegetables and nuts.

More than $337,000 is available. The application deadline is July 24.

The grants awarded will enhance projects that benefit dried fruits, horticulture, Christmas trees, turf grass/sod, and nursery and greenhouse crops. Nonprofit organizations and corporations, commodity associations, state and local government entities, colleges and universities may be eligible.

Guidelines and applications for the program are available at http://www.LDAF.state.la.us.

A list eligible specialty crops is available at http://ams.usda.gov/fv.

For more information, contact LDAF grant administrator Roy Johnson at (225) 922-1277 or via e-mail at SCBGP@ldaf.state.la.us.

Ivy joins network

Ivy Industries of Zachary has joined American Buildings Co.’s national network of builders.

Jeff Ivy is the president of Ivy Industries. The company has served the Baton Rouge area for more than 20 years.

The company can be reached at (225) 658-5814. For more information visit: http://www.ivy-industries.com.

Extreme Pita

A Canadian-based fast-food concept, Extreme Pita, has opened its first Baton Rouge restaurant on Essen Lane north of Perkins Road, with plans up to 10 area locations.

Launched 12 years ago in the Toronto area, Extreme Pita now operates 235 locations in North America and in 2008 cited annual revenue of $134 million.

Baton Rouge businessmen Kelly Landry and Graham Bolton operate the Essen location through Landbolt LLC and plan to open several more franchises, the company said in a news release.

Extreme Pita targets health- and cost-conscious consumers seeking the hot pocket bread meals as an alternative to traditional fast-food menus.

“It makes perfect sense for Extreme Pita,” spokesman Michael Misetic said of entering the Baton Rouge market. “It’s a market that really doesn’t have what we offer.”

Mayors conference

Black mayors from dozens of Southern cities will meet at a conference at Southern University July 12-15 to discuss topics such as tapping federal stimulus programs, economic development and community planning.

The 2009 Gulf Coast Black Mayor’s Leadership and Management Program is being conducted by the Louisiana Center for Equitable Development at Southern.

The mayors, members of the Gulf Coast Black Mayor’s Leadership Program, lead cities in Louisiana, Arkansas, Texas, Alabama, Mississippi and Florida. 

Sessions include:

--“Economic Development and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.” This session will highlight strategies used in creating economic development opportunities for minority contractors through Disadvantage Business Enterprise Programs. Mayors will also receive advice on how to get their share of President Barack Obama’s Economic Stimulus Recovery Plan funds.

--“Equitable Development.” Presenters will discuss the principles and benefits of Equitable Development, such as community benefits agreements, affordable housing, community master planning, access to healthy food and small business development. 

--“Public Finance.” This session will provide mayors with technical skills in budget planning, budget monitoring and municipal bond financing.

“For more information, go to the conference Web site www.L-CED.org or call (225) 236-7692.

Deadline for Business Briefs is 5 p.m. Monday. Items can be mailed or delivered to the Advocate business editor, 7290 Bluebonnet Blvd, Baton Rouge, La. 70810; faxed to (225) 388-0371; or e-mailed to blamb@theadvocate.com. The opening or relocation of a business must include the address, the nature of the business and the names of the owner and/or manager. All other submissions will run at the editor’s discretion.