Working on the Water Summit & Expo Will Focus on Government Contracting, Ecotourism, and Business Development Opportunities

March 16, 2016 (St. Bernard, Louisiana): The Working on the Water Summit and Expo returns to St.  Bernard Parish March 22nd at the Meraux Foundation’s Docville Farm (5124 E. St. Bernard Hwy, Violet, LA)  with a dynamic line up of fishermen and resource agencies. A keynote presentation will include a panel  of alumni from the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Business program. Newly added guest speakers include  Christie Lovell of White Boot Warriors, Lance Nacio of Anna Marie Shrimp, and Marcos and Boris Guerrero  of Caminada Bay Premium Oysters.  

Fisherman, coastal businesses, tourism professionals, and public officials will assemble to discuss the  health of the coastal economy and solutions to build resiliency to the coastal community through business  expansion and diversification. The expo will feature TruFund, Nunez Community College, Louisiana  Economic Development, Louisiana State Procurement, Restore the Earth, Vanishing Paradises, Louisiana  Small Business Development Center, and more.  

The event will be held on March 22, 2016 from 9am‐3pm at the Meraux Foundation’s Docville Farm at  5124 E. St. Bernard Hwy in Violet, LA. Though free, participants should register online, in advance, at  www.workingonthewater.com to secure a seat and lunch ticket.  

The Summit is the culmination of an initiative to expand the scope of Working on the Water by the St.  Bernard Economic Development Foundation, the Regional Planning Commission, and the Economic  Development Administration. The expanded programming included four hands‐on workshops held in  Southeast Louisiana in 2015.  

The 2016 Working on the Water summit is presented by the Meraux Foundation. Goldman Sachs 10,000  Small Businesses serves as the captain sponsor. The St. Bernard Port, Harbor and Terminal District and  the St. Bernard Parish Government are deck hand sponsors.  

Partners include Louisiana Economic Development, Nunez Community College, the Meraux Foundation,  St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce, U.S. Small Business Administration, Louisiana Small Business  Development Center, TruFund, Leadership St. Bernard, LiftFund, St. Bernard Parish Office of Tourism,  GNO, Inc., National Wildlife Federation’s Vanishing Paradise Program, NOLA and the LA Water Network.    

About Working on the Water

Working on the Water is an organization created after the 2010 BP oil spill. Its mission is to support  coastal businesses and improve the resiliency of the coastal economy. To learn more visit  www.workingonthewater.com.  

About St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation

St. Bernard Economic Development Foundation is 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2005 to  promote economic development and commercial growth of St. Bernard Parish. The mission of SBEDF is  to retain and create jobs, build wealth, and improve the quality of life in St. Bernard Parish. The Board of  Directors consists of 28 voting members and 8 non‐voting honorary members and public officials, all of  which serve as volunteers to the organization. SBEDF’s work is made possible through the general  support of its investors, St. Bernard Parish Government, St. Bernard Port, Harbor and Terminal District,  the Arlene and Joseph Meraux Charitable Foundation and Cox Communications at the Champion Level  and the Law Offices of Sidney Torres, III and Associated Terminals at the Pillars Level.  

About the Regional Planning Commission  

The Regional Planning Commission (RPC) serves as the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) for  Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, St. Charles, and St. John Parishes.  The RPC is also the designated Economic Development District for Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St.  Bernard and St. Tammany Parishes. This regional body is comprised of a 31 voting member board with  representation from each of the six core parishes and supported by a staff of planning professionals. This  board, which consists of elected officials and citizen members, meets on a monthly basis to discuss issues  that are regional in nature.    

About the U.S. Economic Development Administration    

The Economic Development Administration marks 50 years of public service, leading the federal economic  development agenda by promoting competitiveness and preparing the nation's regions for growth and  success in the worldwide economy. An agency within the U.S. Department of Commerce, EDA makes  investments in economically distressed communities in order to create jobs for U.S. workers, promote  American innovation, and accelerate long‐term sustainable economic growth.