Economic Development Summit to be held Sept. 20

The Greater Grambling Chamber of Commerce will host an economic Development summit from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Black & Gold Room on Sept. 20. The theme for the summit is “Building Louisiana _” One City at a Time.” The summit is in response to the devastating impact Hurricane Katrina had on the state’s economy. The purpose of the summit is to inform local businesses of business opportunities that are now available and resources available through the state of Louisiana. The summit will be directed by the Louisiana Department of Economic Development, state Sen. Robert Kostelka and state Rep. Rick Gallot. A host of participants will include Kathy Wyatt of Louisiana tech’s SBC, Don Terry with Entergy and Team City, attorney John Belton with the Eddie G. Robinson Museum, GSU President Horace Judson, and Mayor Martha Andrus.For more information, contact Cathy Douglas at (318) 274-2200 or e-mail Douglascj@gram.edu.Two political forums set for candidates in Grambling The first of two political forums featuring candidates for elective office in Grambling will be held Monday, Sept. 18, at 6 p.m. in Grambling Hall Auditorium at Grambling State University . In the first forum, candidates for mayor and trustees for the Lincoln Parish School Board will have an opportunity to present their platform, after which citizens will be able to ask questions. The second forum for city council members, using the same format, will be held Monday, Sept. 25. “The purpose of the forums is to give citizens an opportunity for candidates to tell the community why they are running,” said Barbara McIntyre, president of the Greater Grambling Chamber of Commerce. “It is important that candidates and citizens have an opportunity to interact,” she said. “Presentations will be timed. We have structured these forums in such a way so that we can get in and out in about an hour.” The forums will be moderated by Obadiah Simmons of Grambling State University and Reginald Owens of Louisiana Tech University . The forums are sponsored by the Greater Grambling Chamber of Commerce and the Northeast Grambling Homeowners Association. For more information, contact Douglas Porter, 247- 6934 or Barbara McIntyre, 243-1858.