On April 29, 2021, Louisiana Economic Development named BBQGuys one of its Louisiana Growth Leaders for the year. Only 10 businesses in the state earned a 2021 Growth Leader distinction from LED’s panel of economic development professionals, who annually award the honors in line with select criteria set forth by the organization. The judges evaluated applicants based not only on growth, but also for their leadership, contributions to the community and culture, and other relevant factors. In short, LED sought to recognize companies that have gone above and beyond as both businesses and community leaders.

At the beginning of the year, Baton Rouge-based BBQGuys set forth new corporate social responsibility goals aimed at our community’s struggles with hunger and homelessness, environmental conservation, and economic development. Our economically oriented work included a close, continued partnership with LED to provide the local workforce with access to career training and better jobs. This endeavor came after the Baton Rouge area was down nearly 38,000 jobs from 2019 — an economic issue only compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic shuttering businesses across the state. As a Louisiana Growth Leader, we’re more committed than ever to providing skills training for the local workforce and sharing our organizational insights with companies equally determined to create jobs for Louisianians.