Local economic development organizations should dive deep into the litany of federal pandemic relief fund programs to find potential “gems” for their communities, a pair of Louisiana economic development veterans say.

Michael Olivier, CEO of the Committee of 100 for Economic Development, told a group of economic development executives that programs to support infrastructure and technology projects are “buried” within the American Rescue Plan, the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, and the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security, or CARES, Act.

The federal packages were part of a tidal wave of dollars sent to governments, businesses and individuals across the country to ward off the pandemic’s financial impacts.

“Have you ever looked at these programs?” Olivier said during a presentation Thursday at the Certified Louisiana Economic Developer Program, hosted by the Louisiana Industrial Development Executives Association.

“If you haven’t looked at these programs, then you ought to study them,” Olivier added. “If you want to be a rock star in economic development, you need to read every one of these.”

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