HJNO Mar/Apr 2021

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF NEW ORLEANS  I  MAR / APR 2021 53 lard from District 97 puts it: “The struggle with oil & gas, which our economy has traditionally depended upon, is not unique to Louisiana and much of it is outside of Louisiana’s control in terms of revitalizing the industry. We can’t put all of our eggs in one basket. The bio sector is very attrac- tive to me, and Louisiana is gaining mo- mentum here. It doesn’t require the same level of fiscal investment nor does it have the negative environmental impacts of oil and gas.” Willard added: “I would support the creation of a tax credit program to in- centivize sustained growth of STEM busi- nesses and jobs.” State RepresentativeAimeeAdatto Free- man of District 98 views the recent an- nouncement of the $75 million sale of one of New Orleans’ homegrown tech com- Jeanette R. Weiland Vice President of Bio, Innovation, & Special Projects New Orleans Business Alliance panies, TurboSquid, as a reminder that “… when we invest in our entrepreneurs, the efforts pay dividends. It’s important to recognize and reward our Louisiana-made and owned companies.” Representative Freeman also stresses the importance and power of cultivating a strong workforce. Freeman states: “It is imperative that we as a community do the work on the front-end in preparing our workforce. Supporting local talent is a bipartisan mission. Loui- sianians share the mindset that we want to employ our local people and leverage op- portunities – whether they are developed here or attracted here.” One outcome that NOLABA works to- ward is turning New Orleans’ “brain drain” problem into a short-term “brain main- tain” status, and eventually into a long- term “brain gain” phenomenon. The bio industry is positioned to provide quality jobs and careers for residents and those who desire to move to New Orleans. Other states have continuously invested in the bio industry for decades with unwavering commitment and are reaping the rewards. Think Maryland, Massachusetts, Minneso- ta, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Tex- as as a few examples. Ensuring that Loui- siana policy supports businesses that can save and enhance the quality of many lives is a benefit of investing in bio. Crafting a sustainable, long-term vision to actively encourage advancement in our research institutions and the bio business sector is central to keeping and attracting the top talent that will drive innovation and spur exponential growth. n