In the Metro…

Chamber Welcomes LongHorn Steakhouse toNorthwest Louisiana!  Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, Monday, July 21^st 2:30pm

   LongHorn Steakhouse started in 1981 in a small building located on Peachtree Street in Atlanta.  This first building had only 75 seats and 14 parking spaces with a simple menu consisting of nine entrees and one dessert. Today, LongHorn has grown to over 300 locations.

   LongHorn Steakhouse restaurants are full-service, casual dining steakhouses serving both lunch and dinner. Emphasizing high quality, LongHorn appeals to all guests with its distinctive combination of attentive personalized service and flavorful entrees served in a warm, inviting, comfortable atmosphere.

   The menu at LongHorn has been recognized for the past 25 years for serving fresh, tender, juicy steaks including the signature Flo’s Filet and the Outlaw Ribeye. LongHorn Steakhouse also features an extensive menu consisting of fresh salmon, shrimp, chicken, and fall-off-the-bone ribs. Freshly made salads, soups, hearth-baked bread and irresistible desserts accompany these delicious entrees.  A well-priced wine list featuring classic wines from the California wineries are a wonderful complement to any meal.  A full selection of liquor and beer are also available. 

   Come and experience LongHorn Steakhouse first hand; meet the Managing Partner AJ Waas and his team at the ribbon cutting celebration at 2:30 p.m. this Monday!

7231 Youree Drive

Shreveport, LA 71105

Directly in front of Lowes

   LongHorn Steakhouse is open Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.  For to go orders call 318-797-0696. 

   LongHorn Steakhouse operates over 300 restaurants, which are located primarily in the Southeastern and Midwestern United States. LongHorn Steakhouse is a subsidiary of Darden Restaurants Inc. (NYSE: DRI). Darden also owns and operates Red Lobster, Olive Garden, The Capital Grille, Bahama Breeze and Seasons 52. 

Chamber Membership Orientation

   The Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce is appreciative of all of its member businesses.  We especially commend the new businesses that have recently invested in our community and are partnering with us through membership for the first time.  We also welcome back those who have recently reinstated their membership in the Chamber. 

   Through Chamber membership, you are able to increase your visibility in the community and build relationships that lead to new business.  To make sure that you are aware of the many resources available to you as a member and informed about the various initiatives of the Chamber, we invite you to a membership orientation on Thursday, July 24th, 2008, from 4:00 - 5:00 P.M. at the Broadmoor Branch of Shreve Memorial Library at 1212 Captain Shreve Drive.

   You may register to attend at http://www.ApprovedEvents.com/EventDetails.aspx?EID=1682.

   If you are unable to attend, please consider sending another key person from your business. We also encourage you to invite a potential member to attend with you.  If the potential member decides to join, we'll waive your admission to the next four quarterly Membership Breakfasts of Champions ($40 value).    

   So that we may better prepare for you, please notify FeFe (677-2505 or fefedaniels@shreveportchamber.org) of your intention to attend.

Community Forums to Feature Candidates for 4th District Congressional Seat

   The Times and Red River Radio will hold back-to-back political forums in August to help voters assess candidates in the Sept. 6 Democratic and Republican 4th congressional primaries. This event will be one of the best opportunities to see, hear and meet the candidates trying to succeed longtime incumbent, U.S. Rep. Jim McCrery, R-Shreveport. The party nominees to be decided in the Sept. 6 primaries will square off in the general election in November.

   WHEN: The Republican forum will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19. The Democrats will follow the next night, Wednesday, Aug. 20, again at 7 p.m. Both one-hour forums will take place at the LSUS University Center Theater and be broadcast live on Red River Radio KDAQ 89.9 FM.  

   Candidates are encouraged to come early and stay after the forum to meet with audience members. Sponsors will have representatives there to exchange information and gather information for their organizations. Come meet them too.

   SPONSORS: The Bossier Chamber of Commerce, The Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce and LSUS are joining Red River Radio and The Times as sponsors. Additionally, the Bossier and Caddo Republican Party will sponsor the first night.

   GET INVOLVED: The public is invited to submit questions for the candidates at shreveportimes.com. Click on the “Community Forum” link. Or send them directly to The Times’ editorial page editor Craig Durrett at cdurrett@gannett.com.  Durrett will serve as moderator of the forums. He will use questions collected by forum sponsors and questions sent directly from the community during the discussion.

   ADMISSION: The event is free and open to the public. The radio broadcast begins promptly at 7 p.m. Attendees are asked to be in their seats by 6:55 p.m., five minutes before the broadcast begins. Seating is limited. Arrive early to ensure that you have a seat.

   Find more information as the event approaches at www.shreveporttimes.com and www.redriverradio.org.

Amanda Joy Bell-Gouthiere named Shreveport Opera’s Executive Director

   Amanda Joy Bell-Gouthiere was recently named the new Executive Director of Shreveport Opera.  She has been employed with Shreveport Opera for over a year as the Director of Audience and Artistic Development.  Ms. Gouthiere is a Shreveport native and received both her Bachelor of Arts and Master of Science degrees from Louisiana State University in Shreveport (LSUS).  She also holds a National Certification in American Humanics. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for over 7 years.  For more www.shreveportopera.org. 

Walk of Stars Benefit Concert

Branson’s God & Country Theatre’s Tribute to Jim Reeves is coming to Shreveport’s Louisiana Hayride on Sunday, August 3 at 2 p.m.   In this heartfelt musical tribute John Rex Reeves, nephew of the legendary Jim Reeves, sings and tells stories about his personal relationship with his uncle.  The show is sure to take you down memory lane with songs like Four Walls, He’ll Have to Go, I Love You Because, Welcome to My World, Am I Losing You, Bill Bayou,  plus many other Jim Reeves international hits.  Jim Reeves was posthumously inducted into the Chamber’s Walk of Stars last year.  Proceeds from the concert will benefit the Walk of Stars program and future shows on the Louisiana Hayride presented by Bud Christian.  Tickets are $10 and available at the Chamber.  Call 677.2505.  HELP US GROW THE WALK!!!

Register Today for the 11th Annual Northwest Louisiana Golf Classic – Olde Oaks Golf Course – Monday, October 6, Shotgun Start 11 a.m.  https://www.ApprovedEvents.com/Event.aspx?EID=1661

Members Only…

Chamber Members, We Need Your Help! Ask the Candidates!

   The Greater Shreveport Chamber of Commerce will be interviewing the candidates for the 2008 Louisiana U.S. Senate and Congressional District 4 Elections.  We are preparing a standardized questionnaire targeting chamber, community and business issues to be used during each of the interviews.  (Note, that this candidate interview process helped us achieve our five-star chamber accreditation rating as an innovative way to be involved in the election process through a non-partisan, grassroots effort).

   We need your help.  We're asking our members to submit questions to be used in the questionnaires that will be used during the "one-on-one" interviews with each candidate.  We are interested in what questions you feel are most important to ask of these candidates. 

   Please submit the questions you would like us to include in our questionnaire to Heather Kilroy, Member Services Representative, by Friday, July 25, 2008.  You may email your questions to heather@shreveportchamber.org or you may fax them to (318) 677-2541, attention Heather Kilroy.

Chamber Now Accepting Nominations for 40 Under 40 Awards & Young Professional of the Year.  Learn more: 

http://www.shreveportchamber.org/nominate_40under40.php

Across the State…

Moody’s and Fitch Join S&P in Raising State’s Bond Rating

Upgrades Affect $500 Million in Debt; Saves State At Least $3.75 Million

   All three national rating agencies have now raised the rating on state general obligation bonds to pre-hurricane levels, according to State Treasurer John Kennedy.  Fitch raised its rating on GO bonds from A to A+, Moody’s Investors Service’s rating on GO bonds moved up from A2 to A1, and Standard and Poor’s raised its rating on GO bonds from A to A+. The outlook for the bonds is stable.

   Bond rating upgrades have a measurable impact on the state’s bottom line because they make it less expensive for the state to borrow money. Louisiana will issue around $500 million in general obligation bonds this year to borrow money for various construction projects. As a result of the recent rating upgrades, the state will save at least $3.75 million over the life of these bonds.

   The rating agencies attributed the state’s bond rating upgrade to a variety of factors, most notably the state’s financial strength and recovery after Hurricane Katrina. The rating agencies noted the stable growth in the state’s economy and finances, healthy General Fund and Rainy Day Fund balances, and constitutional and statutory restrictions on incurring debt.

   A higher bond rating for our state prompts business development and greater economic investment.