Pittsburgh, PA - October 7, 2005: - Louisiana’s Lieutenant Governor, Mitchell J. Landrieu, has asked Pittsburgh’s Bill Strickland, President & CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corporation to co-chair an advisory board which will guide his administration’s plans to rebuild Louisiana’s tourism & cultural economies. Also co-chairing this board are jazz great Wynton Marsalis and the Chairman & Founder of Essence Communications, Ed Lewis.

The National Advisory Board also includes cultural and economic development leaders such as jazz historian Ken Burns; actor & New Orleans resident Laurence Fishburne; Secretary Department of Economic Development, Mike Olivier; and President of National Trust for Historic Preservation, Richard Moe among other notables.

“It is an honor to lend strategic support to the vital efforts being made to rebuild the cultural and economic stability of Louisiana,” says Bill Strickland. “This historic region represents a treasured piece of our national culture that we must do our best to restore and preserve.”

Before Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans and the State of Louisiana, Strickland met with Landrieu and other officials regarding replication of the Manchester Bidwell model in New Orleans. The planning was underway for this training center. Strickland’s vision is to assist in the creation of centers for learning & community development all across the United States.

“Mr. Strickland is more than the head of Manchester Bidwell; he is the visionary who saw the potential in disadvantaged youth in the community and the resolute leader who used his determination to see that vision become reality.

For almost three decades, Strickland’s organizations have forged partnerships with corporations, foundations, and public entities to support its nationally-recognized educational, training, and cultural programs targeted toward disadvantaged youth and unemployed adults.

Mr. Strickland’s leadership has been honored with numerous prestigious awards for his contributions to the arts and the community. We in Louisiana are honored to have Bill Strickland Co-Chairing this National Advisory Board and I want to personally thank him for his support and dedication to rebuilding Louisiana.” said Lt. Governor Landrieu.

Landrieu’s National Advisory Board will be asked to assist the Lt. Governor’s administration with:

• Developing long term strategies for the Department of Culture, Recreation & Tourism to rebuild Louisiana’s tourism & cultural economies.
• Advocating for Congressional relief for the state’s tourism and cultural economies.
• Identifying venture capital and creative investments to facilitate a more timely rebuilding of these areas.
• Leveraging national and international organizations and businesses to assist local entrepreneurs to maintain and build their businesses.
• Working with Federal State and Local officials and private industry to make sure that the efforts to rebuild are guided by cultural awareness and needs.
• Identifying resources to help Louisiana build a cultural economy foundation through grants, fundraising opportunities and corporate donors.

“In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, we must make our cultural economy the engine of Louisiana’s economic and social rebirth. We will do so by first ensuring that those cultural assets that were damaged by the storm and flooding are restored to good condition, and that those assets that fortunately remain undamaged are properly conserved and maintained. We will make investments that rebuild capacity within our cultural industries, enhance our distribution outlets, promote cultural education, and create marketing to help fuel this rebirth,” said Louisiana’s Lt. Governor Landrieu.