Fort Polk's commander often refers to the area around the base as "the best hometown in the Army."

Retaining funding for the area metropolitan planning organization and blocking a proposed breakup of the Louisiana Air National Guard's 259th Air Traffic Control Squadron were among the recent pieces of good news for Central Louisiana to come out of Congress.

A combination of efforts here and in Washington has stopped or at least delayed the Air Force's breakup of the Louisiana Air National Guard's 259th Air Traffic Control Squadron, whose 110 members are stationed at Alexandria International Airport.

As the August Congressional Recess nears, it is critically important for members of teh Chamber to put "sequestration" at the top of the list of priorities to discuss with our U.S. Senators and members of the U.S. House.

U. S. House Appropriations Committee adopts language  in 2013 Defense Appropriations Bill blocking Air Force move to eliminate Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units.

A group of central Louisiana elected officials and business leaders, including Deborah Randolph, Chamber President, traveled to Washington, D.C. last week to make Capitol Hill visits to advocate for issues relative to Fort Polk and England Airpark.

Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities throughout the country will observe Memorial Day on Monday, May 28, with ceremonies recognizing service members who have given their lives for their country.

There is a new "Baby Boom" resulting from the winding down of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce hosted a Military Spouse Tour of Alexandria on April 3.  The tour was a joint project of the Chamber's Quality of Life and Military Affairs Divisions and was co-sponsored by the Alexandria Pineville Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.

The United States Air Force has announced plans to disband the Louisiana National Guard 259th Air Traffic Control Squadron located at England Airpark.

The Walsh Ross Group Joint Venture has recently been awarded a contract at Fort Polk and is hosting a small business fair to present potential bidding and subcontracting opportunities to local subcontractors, specifically for the reconstruction of eight barracks buildings.

Central Louisiana's Fort Polk will expand its footprint in mid-February when the Army completes the purchase of 4,900 acres on the base's southern end, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu announced Friday, a signal that the Vernon Parish Army base might be spared upcoming military cuts in funding and troop levels.

The fair was one of about 100 Hiring Our Heroes events being held across the country in a U.S. Chamber of Commerce initiative that was co-sponsored locally by the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce. Ninety-two employers participated Thursday.

The U.S. Army is buying 4,900 acres south of Fort Polk in a move that U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., says points to continued expansion of the Central Louisiana military base.

Over 90 employers from throughout the state and region are participating in the Hiring Our Heroes Job Fair sponsored by the United States Chamber of Commerce and the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce on January 26, 2012 from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Two tax credits for businesses hiring Veteran’s are included in The Vow to Hire Heroes Act of 2011.

The Army base at Fort Polk, home to the Joint Readiness Training Center, will receive $70.1 million for expansion and upgrades, including acreage acquisition and a new brigade complex.

Here in Louisiana, we are proud to announce that the U.S. Chamber is partnering with the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce to host a Hiring Our Heroes Job Fair on January 26, 2012 at the England Airpark Army Processing Facility.

Late last evening, the U.S. Senate approved the Department of Defense Authorization Bill. This legislation contains measures championed by United States Senator Mary L. Landrieu, D-La., including authorization for $70.1 million for Fort Polk

Central Louisiana put its signature on an important document this week -- gladly -- to restate its support for Fort Polk and the significant role the Army post plays in the region and in the nation's military strategy.

Fort Polk's commanding general says the base needs unflagging community support to meet his goal of being "the best hometown in the Army."

The Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce will hold its next Strategic Luncheon on Monday, October 17, at 11:15am-1:00pm.

Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and other state, local and military officials celebrated the announcement of more than $25 million in state funds for infrastructure improvements in the Fort Polk area Thursday.

Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu announced Friday that she has secured over $99.8 million for military installations around the state

Recently, Brigadier General James C. Yarbrough presented several persons with special "personal" awards he characterized as deserving as "Heroes of Fort Polk."

Expansion Solutions Magazine, a leading national publication used as a research tool for key site selection consultants that are active in the site selection process, has named the Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance (CLEDA)as one the nation's top 5 economic development organizations

The Louisiana Small Business Development Center (SBDC) is sponsoring a Veterans Outreach Workshop to assist veterans with maximizing their business and employment opportunities.

United States Navy Commander Eugene J. Doyle, commanding officer of the nuclear attack submarine USS ALEXANDRIA (SSN 757), will honor the City of Alexandria and the Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce as the guest speaker

The Chamber received a letter from U.S. Congressman Rodney Alexander announcing that terms of the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC), established in 2007, were recently redefined

The Central Louisiana Chamber of Commerce is having a Strategic Luncheon, sponsored by First Federal Bank of Louisiana.

The Department of Defense has approved of a land purchase program authorizing FortPolk to expand its current training area by up to 100 thousand acres.  

Major General Bennett C. Landreneau visited the Chamber on April 28 to provide an update to the Chamber's Military Affairs Committee.

On August 30th, the Chamber, in coordination with the Greater Vernon and Beauregard Parish Chambers, co-hosted a "Louisiana Communities & Military Partnership Summit" in Leesville.

Economic diversity, increased growth, managed development, enhanced educational facilities and better quality of life for all area citizens and Fort Polk Soldiers

The traveling Vietnam Memorial known as "The Moving Wall" is a 252-foot long traveling replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C.