Business

The Central Louisiana Economic Development Alliance has hired a regional food systems planner to create a marketplace that encourages the buying and selling of local produce in the alliance’s 10-parish region. John Cotton Dean is beginning to map out his new job. He started last month. He says it’s very forward thinking that the grant-funded job is housed within an economic development agency.

A Gothic adventure video game is under development by Oscar-winning Moonbot Studios in Shreveport. Company officials have launched an online crowd-sourcing fundraiser through Kickstarter. They aim to raise $750,000, along with grassroots buzz from gamers. The game, “The Golem,” will be created entirely in-house by Moonbot’s 50 employees. At a Monday news conference, principal Brandon Oldenburg said the project was on the back burner for a couple years.

Hundreds of soon-to-be brides flocked to a weekend bridal fair at the Bossier Civic Center. They mingled with more than 100 wedding vendors. Many of those vendors are entrepreneurs, including the editor of Bossier City-based Weddings With Style Magazine. Lana Rosalee has organized the bridal fair for 12 years.

“It’s just good for everyone all around," Rosalee said. "The brides meet the vendors, the vendors meet the brides, and everyone’s happy.”

A $21 million upscale apartment complex is under construction in Bossier City, near Interstate 220 and Shed Road. The managing partner of the family-run Fortis Company, Jeff Lowe, says the 240-unit LeRivage will be a cut above other apartment communities. He says one selling point will be its $1 million pool and outdoor living complex.

“I feel it’s different than any other property in Bossier at this time, in that it will offer the resident really a resort lifestyle," Lowe said.