In Abbeville: Rural Economic Development Innovation Initiative Roadshow Begins
Traveling Workshop Will Provide Communities Across Acadiana with the Resources and Training to Transform their Concepts into Marketable Products and Businesses
From vermilionparishlibrary.com/
LAFAYETTE, La (press release) – The first in a series of free, one-day events, The Rural Economic Development Innovation Initiative (REDII) Roadshow is a hands-on learning experience meant to connect the resources, training and expertise of the University of Louisiana at Lafayette to rural communities, increasing business and economic growth.
The first stop on the Rural Economic Development Innovation Initiative Roadshow will take place on Wednesday, Feb. 11, from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at the Abbeville Public Library located at 405 East Saint Victor St. Entrepreneurs, students and community leaders are invited to participate.
Hosted by the Louisiana Entrepreneurship and Economic Development (LEED) Center and the Office of Innovation Management (OIM), participants will receive live demonstrations, one-on-one guidance and learning experiences tailored specifically to their community needs.
Sessions will offer practical guidanceon topics ranging from starting and growing a rural business to intellectual property protection and funding.
“REDII is about more than business; it’s about empowering entire communities,” said Dr. Geoff Stewart, interim vice president for Strategic Impact and Economic Development at UL Lafayette. “When rural entrepreneurs succeed, their communities gain jobs, pride and long-term resilience.”
By creating a single platform where entrepreneurs, educators and local governments can collaborate, each Roadshow stop will serve as a launchpad for ongoing engagement, connecting rural residents to regional networks of support, mentorship and funding.
“It’s not ideas rural innovators lack, it’s access,” says Chad Lacomb, director of UL Lafayette’s OIM.“Through REDII, we’re breaking down barriers and connecting people to the tools, expertise and networks they need to turn local ingenuity into sustainable businesses.”
Registration for the Rural Economic Development Innovation Initiative Roadshow is open online. For roadshow questions, email LEED@Louisiana.edu, or call (337) 482-2566.
