Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards has recognized the Louisiana Procurement Technical Assistance Center at the University for its success in assisting state businesses obtain local, state and federal government contracts.
LA PTAC experts help businesses determine whether they are eligible for contracts, guide them through the bidding process and help them manage contracts.
Since 2009, the center has advised 12,944 businesses, conducted 561 seminars and assisted Louisiana-based businesses in securing 35,986 government contracts worth $4.4 million. It has also helped to create or sustain 44,000 jobs.
LA PTAC is a cooperative effort among the U.S. Department of Defense, Louisiana Economic Development and UL Lafayette. Its state administrative office is in the LITE Center on the UL Lafayette campus. The office oversees four sub-recipient centers throughout Louisiana.
Dr. Ramesh Kolluru, the University’s vice president for Research, Innovation and Economic Development, thanked Gov. John Bel Edwards – as well as LED Sec. Don Pierson – “for recognizing the University’s commitment to economic development through LA PTAC.”
He praised “the entire LA PTAC staff for their passion in assisting our businesses in bringing more federal dollars into Louisiana, including Sherrie Mullins, who recently retired as LA PTAC director, and Cindy Carrier, a senior procurement consultant.”
Kolluru credited Dr. Joseph Savoie, UL Lafayette president, and Dr. Ray P. Authement, former UL Lafayette president, for their commitment to the center, which was launched 30 years ago.
“This recognition is a testament to how a longstanding, collective vision at a research university can drive economic development,” he said.
Learn more about LA PTAC.