BATON ROUGE — Participants at the 2007 Governor’s Conference on Economic Development were introduced to the winners of the LSU Football Corporate Sponsorship Giveaway, presented by Louisiana Economic Development (LED), at the Baton Rouge River Center.
Kuzan’s Market ? Fresh Meats & Cajun Treats, a new Baton Rouge-based market specializing in authentic Louisiana foods, was chosen at random from among 421 qualified companies who entered on LED’s website, LouisianaForward.com. The sponsorship package consists of signage and promotion in Tiger Stadium, on LSUSports.net and LSU GameDay publications. LSU Chancellor Sean O’Keefe announced the winners to conference participants.
“The signage and exposure included in the sponsorship will go a long way to helping Kuzan’s gain a following from the beginning,” Kuzan’s owner Donnie Moore says. “And to us, it’s a great match up. What goes better with LSU football than authentic boudin or smoked sausage? We’re already looking at how the sponsorship expands our future possibilities. We really appreciate what Louisiana Economic Development and this LSU sponsorship will do for us as a Louisiana small business.”
That boost is exactly what LED officials had in mind when LSU Sports Properties proposed the giveaway. “Our ?Laissez le Business Rouler‘ marketing campaign is intended to reinforce the opportunities that exist in Louisiana for businesses of every size, and encourage them to take advantage of them now. Helping a Louisiana small business move forward is exactly what we wanted to achieve,” says LED Director of Communications and Marketing Carole Dupre.
“We are really excited to have a partner like Louisiana Economic Development that is helping move Louisiana forward,” said Brooks Blakey, director of sales for LSU Sports Properties. “The LSU Football Corporate Sponsorship Giveaway is a very creative way to demonstrate the power of marketing for small businesses, and we think the exposure Kuzan’s will receive by being a sponsor will help other small businesses realize that a LSU sponsorship is definitely within reach.”
Moore and his co-owner cousin, Brian Snorgrass, come from a long tradition in Cajun foods, particularly local meats. Their grandfather opened the Eunice Superette Slaugherhouse 46 years ago. Both bring experience in the family operation and other business expertise to their new venture. Moore, a former CPA now employed by BASF, has spent most of his career in public and corporate accounting. Snorgrass, who worked in the food service industry for many years, has spent the last 12 months in intense training in Eunice.
Themed “Moving Louisiana Forward,” this year’s Governor’s Conference on Economic Development included a special discussion panel focused on how communities can support and enhance their small business climate. More than 500 economic developers, chamber of commerce members and business people registered for the 2007 conference.
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The mission of Louisiana Economic Development is to provide excellence in leadership, policy and programs to create a business climate enabling public-private linkages, which result in capital investment, a diversified economic base and quality job opportunities for all Louisiana citizens. For more information, visit LouisianaForward.com.