LED Spotlights Manufacturing Excellence With 2016 Lantern Awards

BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana Economic Development honored the state’s 2016 Lantern Award winners during a private reception today at the Governor’s Mansion. Lantern Award winners demonstrate excellence in manufacturing and outstanding service to their communities through the involvement of their businesses and employees.

“The Lantern Awards are a valuable recognition of what our leading manufacturers are pursuing to advance company success and the success of the Louisiana manufacturing sector,” LED Secretary Don Pierson said. “In Louisiana today, manufacturing jobs are more important than ever. LED works through many partnerships all across our state to make manufacturers more competitive and to enhance the quality of their workforce. We congratulate these Louisiana companies for their accomplishments and we thank them for the contributions they are making in their communities.”

Lantern Award winners are selected by Louisiana’s eight Regional Planning and Development Districts, based on the contributions of the manufacturers to their communities, including investments in employment growth and facility expansion. Each business also must demonstrate sustainability by remaining in operation at least three years prior to the nomination.

The 2016 Lantern Award winners are:

Acadiana Region
Falcon Rice Mill/Cajun Country Rice
Crowley

Bayou Region
Conrad Industries Inc.
Morgan City

Capital Region
Methanex USA LLC
Geismar

Central Region
UPS Midstream Services
Trout

Northeast Region
B. Viz Design
St. Joseph

Northwest Region
Magnolia Steel of Natchitoches Inc.
Natchitoches

Southeast Region
Boscoli Foods Inc.
Kenner

Southwest Region
Howell Industries Inc.
Sulphur

As part of the Lantern Awards ceremony, the Louisiana Quality Foundation recognizes Louisiana Performance Excellence Award winners. This year’s winners are the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency in Metairie, Jefferson Business & Career Solutions Centers in Gretna and MMR Group Inc. of Baton Rouge

Since LED launched the Lantern Awards in 1979, the program has recognized more than 300 Louisiana manufacturing businesses. LED’s program partners include the Louisiana Industrial Development Executives Association and the Louisiana Quality Foundation.

Award winners receive lanterns handcrafted and donated by Bevolo Gas and Electric Lights of New Orleans. The lanterns have become an internationally recognized trademark of New Orleans, and Bevolo is the oldest and largest copper gas lantern manufacturer in the U.S. and the second-oldest in the world.