Regional development group Collab tells council it doubled certified sites and launched leadership programs

Christy Zarang, president and CEO of Collab (formerly the South Louisiana Economic Council), told the Lafourche Parish Council on May 26 that the regional economic-development group has doubled the number of LED-certified sites in the last year and is expanding workforce and leadership programs across the Bayou region.

"When I started at Collab there were three certified sites. In the past year, we've doubled that," Zarang said, describing the process of coordinating with landowners, local economic development organizations and utility companies to make sites more marketable to prospective employers.

Zarang outlined three strategic priorities: business retention and expansion, talent and workforce development, and regional advocacy. She highlighted programs including a CEO roundtable, Ballinger boot camps in partnership with Fletcher Technical Community College to fast-track welders into shipyards, and a Bayou Region Energy Leadership Series aimed at industry and community leaders.

Zarang thanked the council for approving a line item in the budget and left the parish with her annual report and a request the council continue support for Collab’s regional coordination work.