U.S. Chamber Teams with Louisiana Association of Business and Industry on Initiative to Spur Job Growth

U.S. Chamber Teams with Louisiana Association of Business and Industry on Initiative to Spur Job Growth
Donohue Takes Jobs Agenda to the Local Level Calling on Louisianans to Create More than 65,000 Jobs

BATON ROUGE, LA—The Louisiana Association of Business and Industry (LABI) announced its support today for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Campaign for Free Enterprise during the business group's annual meeting. At the event, U.S. Chamber President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue discussed the need to create more than 65,000 jobs in Louisiana in the next decade.

"While we are seeing some encouraging signs in the economy, there are also many uncertainties," Donohue said. "Louisiana is working hard toward finding solutions and together, enabled by American free enterprise, we can meet our goal of sustained economic growth."

Donohue's speech in Louisiana comes on the heels of the Chamber's annual State of American Business address in Washington yesterday. At that event, Donohue underscored the Chamber's interest in working with the White House, Congress, state leaders, unions and other organizations to help meet the goal of creating 20 million American jobs in the next decade.

Today's stop in Baton Rouge—which was recently named one of the top 10 midsize cities in the U.S. to start a small business—is part of a larger effort by the U.S. Chamber to raise awareness among Americans about the essential role that free enterprise plays in job creation and economic growth. Nationwide, the U.S. Chamber estimates that the 20 million jobs will be needed in the next 10 years to restore the 7 million jobs lost in the current recession and 13 million new jobs to accommodate new workers entering the workforce.

"Louisiana, like the rest of the country, has been hit hard by economic downturn these past few years," said Dan Juneau, president of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry. "There is no greater priority in our country right now than creating jobs. That is why the LABI has joined forces with the Campaign for Free Enterprise. Only free enterprise can generate the growth, the innovation, and the creativity needed to create the jobs we need over the long term."

Donohue's Baton Rouge speech kicks off a series of events that are taking place across the country in the coming weeks, including a "Jobs Week," January 22-29, to announce state-by-state job growth goals and to cultivate discussions about how to meet the 20 Million Job Challenge. Later this month the Chamber will launch an online video contest calling for Americans to showcase their entrepreneurial successes. In addition, the campaign will sponsor a college speakers bureau, form K-12 partnership programs, and host regional and local governor and mayor events.

American Free Enterprise. Dream Big. is the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's comprehensive, multiyear campaign to support free enterprise through national advertising; grassroots advocacy; citizen, community, and youth engagement; and research and ideas leadership.

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses and organizations of every size, sector, and region.

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