Business Briefs for Nov. 11, 2012

Website seminar set for businesses

A free seminar on “Getting your Business Online” will be held 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Louisiana Technology Park at 7117 Florida Blvd. in Baton Rouge.

Participants will learn the importance of investing in a business website, how to get a free simple business website and how to apply for grant money for a free business website.

For more information, contact the Louisiana Small Business Development Center-Southern University at [phone] or register online at http://www. lsbdc.org.

BR General expands wound services

Baton Rouge General Medical Center is expanding its wound care services to its Bluebonnet campus.

The services, which originated on the Mid City campus, will begin in early November.

The General’s wound and hyperbaric team specializes in healing a variety of wounds, including chronic wounds caused by diabetes, poor circulation or other conditions that can lead to amputation.

The phone number for Baton Rouge General’s Wound and Hyperbaric Center is [phone].

See’s Candies opens in Mall of La.

See’s Candies has opened a seasonal store in the Mall of Louisiana at 6401 Bluebonnet Blvd. in Baton Rouge.

The store will be open through Dec. 26.

Phelps Dunbar gets LEED certification

Phelps Dunbar LLP has been awarded LEED for Commercial Interiors certification for its nearly 56,000-square-foot law office at 400 Convention St.

The designation was made by the U.S. Green Building Council and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute.

LEED is a program for the design, construction and operation of high-performance, environmentally friendly green buildings.

“Phelps Dunbar is dedicated to sustainable initiatives to protect the wellness of our clients, attorneys and staff in addition to being good stewards of the environment,” said P. Ragan Richard, managing partner of the firm’s Baton Rouge office.

Phelps Dunbar made the decision to move office locations in 2007 and worked with Gensler, its architectural firm, and Harrell Construction Group LLC toward meeting the environmental standards required for LEED certification. The firm moved in early 2009.

Phelps Dunbar achieved LEED certification for energy use, lighting and material use as well as incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies.

Taco Del Mar opens in Poydras food court

NEW ORLEANS — Taco Del Mar has opened in downtown New Orleans at 1515 Poydras St., inside the food court.

Founded in 1992, Taco Del Mar is a quick-service restaurant chain inspired by the style of Baja, Mexico, and the coastal beach shacks known for serving burritos and tacos.

Jay Jatala is owner of the new restaurant.

Taco Del Mar has nearly 170 locations throughout the U.S. and Canada.

GCR Inc. expands into Baton Rouge

NEW ORLEANS — New Orleans-based technology and professional services company GCR Inc. expanded by opening a Baton Rouge office at 5153 Bluebonnet Blvd., Suite B, to serve its public and private sector clients.

GCR also recently opened an office in Los Angeles for contracts it was awarded on the West Coast.

Joseph Doherty, GCR’s chief executive officer, said the Baton Rouge office allows GCR to be closer to customers in the capital area and to support the Gulf states, domestic and international customers and partners.

Five employees are currently staffing the Baton Rouge office, and Doherty said he expects that number to grow to 20. GCR currently employs 130 professionals in its various offices.

Solutient gets wind retrofit contracts

NEW ORLEANS — The Solutient Corp. entered into an agreement with Washington Parish recently to provide program management services for the implementation of Hazard Mitigation Grant Projects.

This new agreement broadened the scope of work Solutient is contracted to do for Washington Parish and now includes project management services for wind retrofit projects.

There currently is one funded wind retrofit grant consisting of four Washington Parish schools with funding totaling $885,421.

Funding is expected shortly on two additional wind retrofit grants where similar work will be done, the company said.

One includes six additional school and government buildings, while the other grant includes the Washington Parish Courthouse Complex and Washington Parish Government building.

Once the final funding is approved, these two additional grants will total close to $4 million in grant funding, the company said.