business briefs

Grants available for child development

Capital Area United Way is seeking eligible and qualified nonprofit organizations to replicate or expand early childhood development programs for children and families in low-income communities within the 10-parish capital area.

The Capital Area United Way received $1 million in grant money from the Corporation for National and Community Service’s social innovation fund increase the evidence base for early intervention models.

A request for proposals can be found at CAUW.org/SIF for qualifying organizations.

Chiropractic practice opens on Corporate

Barczyk Chiropractic Group has opened an office at 5248 Corporate Blvd., Suite C in Baton Rouge. New patients should call [phone] for an appointment and are usually seen within the week.

Barczyk Chiropractic is run by Dr. David Barczyk, president of the Chiropractic Association of Louisiana. The Baton Rouge location’s managing partner is Dr. Holly Raggio, a native of Breaux Bridge.

Seminar to help guard against fraud

Capital Region Builders Association and The Remodelers Council of Greater Baton Rouge will host several seminars for consumers who are considering any type or size addition or remodel project. The Louisiana State Licensing Board for Contractors has partnered with CRBA to help educate the public on how to avoid getting scammed by unlawful contractors and to better understand the correct licenses they should expect from their contractor.

The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the Independence Park Tennis Center, 7505 Independence Blvd.

Tickets are available at the door for $5 each or $4 in advance from CRBA.

Conference to focus on small business

The Louisiana Small Business Development Center at Southern University will host “Starting and Financing a Small Business” from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Wednesday at the Louisiana Technology Park at 7117 Florida Blvd.

The free workshop is recommended for those interested in determining the feasibility of their business idea; planning to start or have recently started a small business; seeking a small business loan; or wanting to learn more about business planning. Topics include writing a business plan, sources of funds for start-up and expansion, small business resources and required licenses.

Contact LSBDC Southern University at [phone] or register online at www. lsbdc.org.

Nonprofits to apply for free advertising

The American Advertising Federation – Baton Rouge is accepting applications from local nonprofit organizations interested in a pro bono advertising campaign produced by AAF-BR members.

Any non-profit organization from the Baton Rouge area may apply. Applications are due Nov. 16. An AAF-BR committee will vote using a point system on whether the organization has a mission statement and marketing goals that inspire creativity; shows a positive influence on the local community; and shows a relationship to or an interest that supports the mission of AAF-BR. To download the application, go to: http://aafbr.org/campaign-for-community-2012

Food access
summit planned

Several Louisiana organizations concerned with food production and distribution have planned a Food Access Summit Nov. 7 at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center.

The summit is from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and will include sessions on developing local food policy councils, initiating farm-to-school programs and implementing a hunger-free Louisiana plan, according to the LSU AgCenter, one of the summit organizers.

Guest speakers will include Mike Strain, commissioner of the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry; Bill Ludwig, a U.S. Department of Agriculture regional administrator from Dallas, Texas; Rep. Scott Simon, the Louisiana legislator who sponsored the legislation establishing a state Sustainable Local Food Policy Council; and Paul Coreil, LSU AgCenter vice chancellor.

Other topics to be covered include establishing school and community gardens, food stamps and farmers markets, and utilization of local foods in school lunch programs.

More information is available at www.LSUAgCenter.com. Click on Food & Health and then Health. Registration is $26. The link to registration is in the document titled “Louisiana Food Access Summit.”

Bundt cake bakery opens on Corporate

Nothing Bundt Cakes, a bakery specializing in Bundt cakes, has opened its first Louisiana location at 7620 Corporate Blvd., Suite D, in Baton Rouge. Cakes range from a single serving to ones that serve up to 26 people, each with custom decorations.

Elizabeth Novak is the owner of the Baton Rouge location. Nothing Bundt Cakes was founded in 1997 and is headquartered in Las Vegas. It has 55 bakeries in 13 states.

Networking event
set for Nov. 13

Baton Rouge Entrepreneurship Week will feature BRAC Connect, a high-speed networking event that allows investors to interact with attendees, and a series of meet-ups called Innovation Take-Out.

BRAC Connect will be held from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 13 at Boogie Nights at Hollywood Casino. It is $5 for BRAC members and $10 for nonmembers.

Innovation Take-Out includes presentations: The Food Truck Revolution, presented by Matt Gellar, CEO, Southern California Mobile Food Vendors Association; The Latest in Nutrition, Disease, and Entrepreneurial Opportunities, presented by Corby Martin, associate professor, Ingestive Behavior Laboratory, Pennington Biomedical Research Center; and The Rise and Development of Online Couponing, presented by Alli Phillips, general manager, Living Social Gourmet.

The free event will be held from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 14 at the Hilton Hotel.

For either event, contact Nancy Little at 225-381-7135 or [e-mail].

Accounting forum thinks global

The LSU Department of Accounting will host an International Business Forum from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Crowne Plaza.

The forum will be geared for discussion and interaction among business managers looking to interact in global markets. Those who attend the event will be awarded six hours of CPE credit.

E.J. Ourso College Dean Richard White will be the opening speaker, and Loren Scott, president of Loren C. Scott & Associates and professor emeritus of economics, will be keynote speaker.

A reception will follow, as well as breakout sessions on Louisiana’s International Economy; Accelerating International Growth via Soft Landings; and International Accounting and Auditing Issues.

Registration is $100, payable by check only to the Department of Accounting with “Annual Business Forum” written in the memo line. Checks may be delivered to Business Education Complex, Room 2800 or mailed to: International Business Forum, Department of Accounting, Business Education Complex, Room 2800, LSU, Baton Rouge, LA 70803.

For more information, visit www.business.lsu.edu/accounting, call [phone], or email [e-mail].

Superior Ford under new ownership

Superior Ford, a Zachary car dealership, is now under new ownership.

Patrick Campbell took over as sole owner of Superior in mid-September. Campbell had owned the dealership with Adrian Harris since the start of 2012. Before that, Nelson and East owned Superior Ford.

Campbell, who spent the past seven years as manager of Gerry Lane Ford in Baton Rouge, is the third generation of his family to own a car dealership.

Angelique becomes Edit by LBP

LSU graduate and Baton Rouge resident Lauren Bailey Pollard has become the sole owner of the former Angelique Boutique at 17455 Perkins and renamed the store Edit by LBP.

Pollard had co-owned the Baton Rouge store with Angelique Short since the two opened a location here after Hurricane Katrina. The original Angelique Boutique is in New Orleans.

Edit bills itself as a designer boutique focused on fashion-forward, sophisticated clothing with a modern twist.

Some Workers’ Comp rates decline

METAIRIE — The Louisiana Restaurant Association Self Insurer’s Fund for Workers’ Compensation has announced a rate reduction in classification codes related to the hospitality industry.

The LRA SIF rate reductions were approved by the Louisiana Department of Insurance as a result of the positive claims experience of its members in those classes. The overall claims rates decreased by 4.2 percent.

The rate reductions for these hospitality and retail focused classifications will take effect January 1, 2013 and include: fast food restaurants, bars, hotels, country clubs, drivers, food manufacturing and convenience stores.

Jefferson Community opens clinic

NEW ORLEANS — The board of directors and staff of Jefferson Community Health Care Centers broke ground on a new clinic in Avondale. Jefferson is a federally qualified health center that provides affordable health care to the residents of Jefferson Parish, offering medical, dental, vision and behavioral health services.

Ford-Lincoln dealership under way

OPeLOUSAS — Construction has begun on a new Ford-Lincoln dealership on Interstate 49 N. Service Road adjacent to the Sterling Dodge-Chrysler-Jeep-Ram dealership. The new facility, owned by Sterling Ford-Lincoln LLC and to be completed in 11 months, will have 32,000 square feet of showroom space, sales offices, customer lounge, retail and wholesale parts and accessories along with a 17-bay service facility.

Other amenities will include an automated stand-alone carwash and three vehicle detail bays. A second floor will house business and operations offices for all three of Sterling’s Opelousas dealerships. When completed, Sterling Ford-Lincoln’s operations will move from the present Bordelon Motors location in downtown Opelousas to I-49 North Service Road.