State Economic Development Leader Planning State Tour

BATON ROUGE (AP) — Louisiana's new economic development secretary will tour the state over the next two weeks, meeting with regional organizations that work to draw business to their areas.

         Don Pierson's visits to the local economic development groups begin Monday, when he'll visit Tallulah, Delhi and Alexandria. Over the course of the two weeks, he'll travel to Lafayette, New Orleans, Thibodaux, Shreveport, Monroe and Lake Charles.

         He'll wrap up Feb. 5 with a meeting with the Baton Rouge Area Chamber.

         The state economic development department says Gov. John Bel Edwards, a Democrat who took office last week, is placing a new emphasis on fostering small business growth in Louisiana.

         Pierson's visits are aimed, according to his office, at discussing the importance of collaboration between the state department and the regional chambers of commerce.