Highlights and Events

Dear Friends,

I trust that you and your families are safe and have largely made it through an experience which should stand greatly to our credit - we passed our first post-Katrina "test."

I want to update you on a few actions GNO, Inc. is currently undertaking:

• LED has requested that we conduct a quick economic impact survey of the 250 largest companies in the region. We may be requesting your assistance on this time sensitive matter
• GNO, Inc. is partnering with the other storm-affected regional EDOs to help displaced businesses find temporary space. Again, we will ask for your help here as needed
• LED has also asked for our input in designing a potential assistance package for storm-affected businesses (based in part on my personal experience with past programs)

Otherwise, we are looking to resume business as usual - including aggressive business development - by end of the week, and to use the Gustav experience as a way of demonstrating the progress we have made as a region.

Please reach out to me immediately if there is anything else you need at this time from GNO, Inc. or LED. A sincere thank you to everyone for your efforts in this extraordinary time.

Best,

Michael Hecht
Cell Phone: 504-715-5037