Founded in June 1991, the Jefferson Business Council (JBC) is a private, nonprofit organization of Jefferson Parish business leaders who take action to encourage, promote or enhance the economic posture, social welfare and economic environment of Jefferson Parish, Louisiana and the River Region. Its reputation is universally known by business and government.
The JBC is fully funded by membership dues and accepts no outside funding, which allows the organization to be independent of any funder, grant or governmental entity. This independence translates into fearless support for issues deemed by the JBC to be important to the economic development and health of the parish and state. The organization wields a great deal of influence that is used to help further the strength of business and the community.
The JBC is active in all areas of Jefferson Parish economic development, as well as all facets of government. The council’s general membership meets monthly, during which a guest speaker addresses a current issue, and its executive committee meets bimonthly. The meetings are held in Bonvenu Bank at 3908 Veterans Boulevard in Metairie.
A membership drop-in breakfast with elected officials takes place every second Tuesday of each month in the Bonvenu Bank conference room in Metairie. The cost is covered by the JBC. Members are welcome anytime between 8 a.m. and 9 a.m. for breakfast and casual conversation — the event has no guest speakers or agenda. These breakfasts are designed to foster communication and rapport among Jefferson elected officials and the Jefferson Business Council.
While the JBC does not endorse candidates for political office, members contribute heavily to the campaigns of local and statewide candidates.
Recent highlights from the JBC include work with industrial partners and the Jefferson Economic Development Commission (JEDCO) in 2024 — along with the leadership of the Jefferson Chamber — to contribute to the regulations on industrial rezoning. In 2023, the JBC conducted a Jefferson Parish Quality of Life Survey and published the results in print and electronically on the Jefferson Business Council website.
Other issues supported by the JBC include school board and education improvement, early childhood education, insurance affordability, proper expenditure of parish funds, and parish and state governance.
The JBC collaborates with surrounding parish business councils, as well as JEDCO and Greater New Orleans, Inc., and convenes the Southeast Louisiana Coalition of Business Councils. It is governed by a chairman and executive committee. The executive director also serves as the chief operations officer.
Fred Preis, Esq., senior partner of Breazeale, Sachse & Wilson, LLP, is the 2024 chairman of the Jefferson Business Council.
Interested in becoming a member?
Membership in the JBC is by nomination through a current member and nominees must meet certain criteria both for company size and the nominee’s capacity as the decision maker for his/her organization. After vetting by the membership committee, the nominee’s information is presented at a subsequent meeting for a vote of the full membership. Presently, there are 70 members from a wide range of businesses.
Larry Dale is the executive director of the Jefferson Business Council (JBC). He may be reached via email at ldale@jeffersonbusinesscouncil.com.
