Collection:LPB

Genre: Newsmagazine

Place Covered: Louisiana

Copyright Holder: Louisiana Educational Television Authority

Date Issued: 1996-02-16

Duration: 00:17:12

Subjects: Louisiana. Department of Economic Development | African American business enterprises | Women-owned business enterprises | Affirmative Action

Contributors:

• Collins, Robert Host
• Chapa, Arcie Reporter
• Carter, Gwen Interviewee
• Birkett, Warren Interviewee
• Guidry, John Interviewee
• Foster, Mike Interviewee
• Johnson, Ernest Interviewee
• Butler, Louis Interviewee
• Furr, Riley Interviewee

This segment from the February 16, 1996, episode of the series “Louisiana: The State We’re In” features Arcie Chapa’s report on the reaction to Governor Mike Foster’s executive order ending programs aimed at helping female-owned and minority-owned businesses. Chapa reports that Governor Foster announced another executive order directing the Louisiana Department of Economic Development (LED) to develop a program to assist owners of small economically disadvantaged businesses to become more competitive for state contracts and private sector work. She interviews: Gwen Carter, owner of USA Travel in New Orleans; Warren Birkett, owner of Wybirk and Associates in Baton Rouge; State Senator John Guidry; and Governor Mike Foster. Host Robert Collins then conducts an in-studio interview with three panelists: Ernest Johnson, president of the Louisiana NAACP; Louis Butler, chairman of the Coalition for Minority Contractors; and Riley Furr of the Louisiana Department of Economic Development. They discuss their reactions to Governor Foster’s executive orders and the plans for the new LED program.