Grow NELA

10/13/2026

10/12/2026

“This is not a market failure. This is a failure of ownership.”

In a recent interview with KTVE 10, Grow NELA President & CEO Rob Cleveland addressed growing concerns surrounding Pecanland Mall’s new ownership and the potential consequences for our local business community.

These concerns extend far beyond Monroe. Reports involving the mall's new ownership group, Kohan Retail Investment Group, have a documented history of unpaid taxes and utility bills, deteriorating properties and utility shutoffs that have disrupted businesses and forced closures. These are more than maintenance issues. When shopping centers face these conditions, businesses lose revenue, employees face uncertainty and entire communities risk losing important economic assets.

Pecanland Mall plays a vital role in Northeast Louisiana’s economy, supporting local jobs, businesses and public services. Protecting its future means supporting those businesses and holding ownership accountable

Read more about Rob Cleveland's interview with KTVE 10 and the concerns surrounding Pecanland Mall's new ownership:
https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/ouachita-parish/pecanland-malls-new-ownership-sounds-the-alarm-for-local-business-owners/

10/09/2026

A major investment in Caldwell Parish's future!

Today, Grow NELA was proud to join Louisiana Economic Development, the Port of Columbia, elected officials and community and regional partners to celebrate a $1 million FastSites investment that will help move a $7 million industrial rail expansion project forward.

This investment will support a new rail spur connecting the Port of Columbia to the Union Pacific mainline, adding rail access alongside existing river and highway connections while strengthening infrastructure, expanding transportation options for local businesses and positioning Caldwell Parish for future industrial investment.

Today's event was about more than an infrastructure announcement. It was an opportunity to bring together the people and partners working to strengthen Northeast Louisiana's economic future.

We want to thank LED, the Port of Columbia, our elected officials and everyone who joined us today to recognize this important milestone. Investments like these are made possible through collaboration and a shared commitment to preparing our communities for what's next.

Grow NELA is grateful to see continued investment in the infrastructure that makes Northeast Louisiana more competitive, one community and one project at a time.

10/09/2026

A major investment in site readiness is moving forward in Caldwell Parish.

Louisiana Economic Development is investing $1 million through its FastSites program to help advance a $7 million industrial rail expansion project at the Port of Columbia, strengthening one of Northeast Louisiana’s key multimodal industrial assets.

The Port of Columbia is a 400-acre LED Certified Site with direct access to the Ouachita River and U.S. Highway 165. The project will add a new rail spur connecting the port to the Union Pacific mainline, creating another important transportation option for existing businesses and strengthening Caldwell Parish’s ability to compete for future industrial investment.

FastSites helps communities invest in strategic sites and infrastructure before new projects arrive, reducing barriers, accelerating development and better positioning communities to compete for new opportunities.

Grow NELA is grateful to see Louisiana Economic Development and FastSites continuing to invest in the infrastructure that strengthens Northeast Louisiana’s competitiveness and supports long-term growth.

10/08/2026

The Pecanland Mall is one of the largest single site locations for sales tax revenue generation in our entire region. It generates revenue for public safety, for education, and for infrastructure upgrades. It is a critical hub of commerce, and an important cultural destination for our residents.

The new Mall owner has a longstanding history of mismanagement and failure to pay local vendors. It is important that businesses in our region understand the potential risks associated with working with the new ownership. Our priority is to ensure that local businesses are informed, protected and not taken advantage of.

We encourage our community to stay informed, continue supporting the businesses operating at Pecanland Mall and recognize that protecting existing jobs and investment is just as important as creating new opportunities.

The employees and businesses at the Mall, and residents of our region, deserve better.

Read more about the concerns facing Pecanland Mall:
https://www.myarklamiss.com/news/ouachita-parish/pecanland-malls-new-ownership-sounds-the-alarm-for-local-business-owners/

10/07/2026

Grow NELA’s Benjamin Stokes and Brandon Welch recently joined The Waiting Tables Podcast for a conversation about the future of Northeast Louisiana.

They discussed the momentum happening across our region, the role economic development plays in creating new opportunities, and what continued growth could mean for our communities, businesses and workforce.

We appreciate the opportunity to share more about the work happening across NELA and the partnerships helping move our region forward.

Watch the full conversation here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-JL_whjKHZs

10/02/2026

Northeast Louisiana is growing, and understanding the forces shaping that growth is critical to what comes next.

Join us on October 22 for the 2026 Northeast Louisiana Economic Summit, a data-driven look at the trends, opportunities and economic forces shaping our region.

Business and community leaders from across Northeast Louisiana will come together to better understand where our economy stands today, where it is headed and what that outlook could mean for the decisions we make tomorrow.

📅 October 22, 2026
⏰ 10 AM–1:30 PM
📍 Bayou Pointe Event Center | 1 Warhawk Way | Monroe, LA

Presented by BRIP (Biomedical Research and Innovation Park), the University of Louisiana Monroe and Grow NELA.

For sponsorship opportunities, table reservations or event inquiries, contact Madeline at 318-792-0205 or [email protected].

09/29/2026

For 60 years, ULM School of Construction Management has helped build the workforce behind Northeast Louisiana’s growth.

Grow NELA’s Brandon Welch joined more than 300 guests for the celebration, where our recent research on the program was also shared. The numbers show strong momentum: enrollment grew 37.1% from Fall 2023 to Fall 2025, employer participation at career fairs increased 60.4%, and 69.2% of 2025–2026 graduates accepted positions in Northeast Louisiana.

As investment and construction activity continue to grow across our region, programs like this help ensure that growth creates opportunities for local talent.

Congratulations to University of Louisiana Monroe and everyone who has helped build this program over the past 60 years. We look forward to continuing our partnership and preparing Northeast Louisiana for what comes next.

09/25/2026

Grow NELA spent the morning with Unitech Training Academy leaders from across Louisiana as Brandon Welch joined their ULDI event to talk about the role workforce and community play in Northeast Louisiana’s growth.

Unitech’s West Monroe campus has long provided career-focused healthcare training and is now expanding into skilled trades with its Electrical program, helping meet the changing workforce needs of our region.

That tied directly into Brandon’s message today: Northeast Louisiana’s growth has been built through collaboration, and working together will be just as important as we prepare our workforce and capitalize on the opportunities ahead.

We loved learning more about the work happening at Unitech and are excited to see the workforce they’re building right here in NELA.

09/23/2026

Economic development is about more than investments and job numbers. It is about helping people understand what growth means for their families, businesses and communities.

Grow NELA’s Marketing & Graphic Design Manager, Madeline Stevison, was recently featured by the Southern Economic Development Council in an article exploring how storytelling can build community trust. Madeline shared how Grow NELA turns complex data into clear, relatable information while listening to residents’ questions and connecting regional growth to its real impact across Northeast Louisiana.

Read the full article: https://www.sedc.org/news/using-storytelling-to-build-community-trust-in-economic-development