MEPOL and the Louisiana Small Business Development Center Greater New Orleans Region are in a partnership to present a training session on Seed Investing for Entrepreneurs.

For more infomation click here.

Expand your markets -- the railcar manufacturers need your capabilities

As an American manufacturer, May 8 could be your once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Hundreds of millions of government dollars are available to help fund the building of future rail transportation. The Next Generation Rail Supply Chain Forum wants to develop 100% American-made supply chains for next generation rail cars. 

Your company can check into being part of the action by attending this Next Generation Rail Supply Chain Forum May 8, 2012 in Orlando, Florida. The Forum will address rail industry product needs, and the requirements and considerations of manufacturers, both traditional rail and non-traditional.   The day-long event features a keynote address, discussion panels, one-on-one meetings with OEMs, and a networking reception. To date, the following OEMs and Tier One supplierss have confirmed attendance: Bombardier, ElectroMotive Diesel, Talgo, Knorr Brake Corp, Wabtec, GE Transportation, and Motive Power.

Admission to the Forum is free for the first 150 to register - use the discount registration code RAIL. To access the one-on-one business meetings, you must provide your DUNS number. After these first 150, registration will cost $300.

An additional benefit for attending companies is the opportunity to speak to contract purchasing agents in other industries.

This is your chance to become a supplier to the recently released $500 million request for proposals for next-generation railcar purchases that fall under the Buy American act. 

 OEMs and Tier One rail car builders have indicated four main areas of need for U.S. suppliers in order to help them comply with Buy America requirements:

• Rail car / locomotive transmissions, propulsion systems
• Rail car, railway, and locomotive electronic systems
• Specialty castings and forgings for rail cars and locomotives
• Stainless steel and aluminum for rail car body shells, fabricated truck frames

OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers  have indicated they want to engage U.S. suppliers in all areas including those in the following NAICS codes to broaden their U.S. supplier base which would allow them to have the capacity to bid on a wide variety of upcoming rail and transit contracts. 

NAICS Code                              Description

326                                               Plastics and Rubber Products Manufacturing

327                                               Nonmetallic Mineral Product Manufacturing

331                                               Primary Metal Manufacturing

332                                               Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing

333                                               Machinery Manufacturing

335                                               Electrical Equipment, Appliance, and Component Manufacturing

336                                               Transportation Equipment Manufacturing

Remember, admission to the Forum is free for the first 150 to register - use the discount registration code RAIL. To access the one-on-one business meetings, you must provide your DUNS number. After these first 150, registration will cost $300.

The rail supply chain needs you. Don’t miss out on this chance to discover how you can innovate, expand, and profit from an industry that is building the future of American rail transportation.   This event is sponsored by the US Department of Transportation and the US Department of Commerce.

www.innovationlouisiana.com

Louisiana companies, entrepreneurs and inventors now have a new way to get their good ideas off the ground.

The Manufacturing Extension Partnership of Louisiana and the University of Louisiana at Lafayette announces the creation of the Louisiana Innovation Marketplace to allow Louisiana innovators to sell and buy technology and business ideas, communicate those ideas on a national level and commercialize their products or services..

The Louisiana Innovation Marketplace is tied to the National Institute of Standards and Technologies’ USA National Innovation Marketplace which is powered by Eureka! Ranch, a nationally recognized innovation, research and development firm, known for creation and commercialization of intellectual property.

Louisiana is one of only seven universities that have an innovation marketplace. Other universities with state marketplaces for intellectual property commercialization are The University of Wyoming, The Ohio State University, Florida State University, the University of Louisville, the University of Maine and the University of Pittsburgh.

This program will also allow Louisiana citizens to connect with buyers, sellers, manufacturers and distributors, and investors on a state, national and global basis.  Louisiana manufacturers can register their expertise, capabilities, and resources at no cost.

The Louisiana Innovation Marketplace will support deeper knowledge and infrastructure for world class training and education of businesses and entrepreneurs.

Visit the marketplace at www.innovationlouisiana.com today and signup for free.