LED Recognizes Manufacturing Excellence With 2015 Lantern Awards

BATON ROUGE, La. — Today, Louisiana Economic Development honored the 2015 Lantern Award winners during a private reception held at the Louisiana Governor’s Mansion. Lantern Award winners demonstrate excellence in manufacturing and outstanding service to their communities through the involvement of their businesses and employees.

“It is a pleasure every year to celebrate Louisiana-based manufacturers who demonstrate quality in their work processes and a commitment to their local communities,” LED Secretary Steven Grissom said. “With their focus on improvement, growth and innovation, these Lantern Award winners exemplify what is best about our state’s manufacturing sector. These companies embody quality in their work processes while making significant contributions to the quality of life in Louisiana’s communities. We congratulate them on their accomplishments and are grateful for the career opportunities they provide to the people of our state.”

Lantern Award winners are selected by Louisiana’s eight Regional Planning and Development Districts, with selection 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 2015 Lantern Award winners are:

Acadiana Region
Noble Plastics Inc.
Grand Coteau

Bayou Region
DSC Dredge LLC
Reserve

Capital Region
Pod Pack International
Baton Rouge

Central Region
UTLX Manufacturing LLC
Alexandria

Northeast Region
Gardner Denver Thomas
Monroe

Northwest Region
Xerium Technologies Inc.
Ruston

Southeast Region
D&D Creations
Kenner

Southwest Region
Lake Charles Rubber and Gasket Co.
Lake Charles

As part of the Lantern Awards ceremony, the Louisiana Quality Foundation recognizes Louisiana Performance Excellence Award winners. This year’s winners are Jefferson Community Development, Jefferson Community Action Programs, Jefferson Parish Inspection and Code Enforcement, and the Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency, all based in Jefferson Parish; Health Guardians, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New Orleans; Wealth Planning Law Group, New Orleans; R&H Quality Refractory Services Inc., Westlake; and Lafayette General Medical Center, Lafayette.

Since LED launched the Lantern Awards in 1979, the program has recognized nearly 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 & 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.