Dillon Lowe

Baton Rouge

Staff Writer at Baton Rouge Business Report

staff writer @brbizreport // @mixedmantra

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Articles

Inside Mid City Mud, a new Government Street space for potters

1 week ago | businessreport.com | Dillon Lowe

Experienced potters can get behind custom-made wheels to create their own clay masterpieces at the new Mid City Mud, BellyFire Studios’ 24-hour membership-based workshop opening on Government Street this Sunday, 225 Magazine writes. Owner David Rollins says the space will fill a need for local potters while also creating a “third place”—a space where people can gather and interact outside of their home and work.
Roundup: Employee data collection / Off the Hook / Oil inventories

1 week ago | businessreport.com | Dillon Lowe

Know the risks: As biometric and health-tracking technologies become more accessible, companies are increasingly collecting employees’ bodily data to boost productivity and safety. But research shows these efforts often undermine job security—especially when data collection feels coercive or is linked to performance reviews—leading to lower morale, mental health strain and reduced productivity.
Why EBR’s Head Start program is in jeopardy

1 week ago | businessreport.com | Dillon Lowe

East Baton Rouge Parish’s 40-year-old Head Start program could soon come to an end due to lack of federal funding, WAFB reports. Yolana Burnett-Lankford, the city-parish’s chief services officer, told the Metro Council on Wednesday that the federal grant that funds the program terminates on June 30. She says she hasn’t heard from the federal government whether or not the application to renew the grant has been approved—a decision that was supposed to have been made by March 30.
LWCC releases free hurricane guide for Louisiana businesses

1 week ago | businessreport.com | Dillon Lowe

Ahead of what’s expected to be another above-average hurricane season, LWCC, Louisiana’s largest workers’ compensation insurer, on Thursday released its 2025 Hurricane Preparedness Resource Guide. The guide, which is free to view or download, details all of the steps that businesses should take before, during and after a hurricane to safeguard their assets. This year’s Atlantic hurricane season starts Sunday.
Average rate on a 30-year mortgage rises to highest level since early February

1 week ago | businessreport.com | Dillon Lowe

The average rate on a 30-year mortgage in the U.S. rose this week to its highest level since early February, further pushing up borrowing costs for homebuyers. The rate increased to 6.89% from 6.86% last week, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. A year ago, the rate averaged 7.03%. Borrowing costs on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages, popular with homeowners refinancing their home loans, also rose. The average rate ticked up to 6.03% from 6.01% last week.
Landry signs contentious insurance reform bill into law

1 week ago | businessreport.com | Dillon Lowe

In a Wednesday morning press conference, Gov. Jeff Landry signed into law what his office is calling the “largest tort reform effort in state history.” The package is a response to Louisiana’s sky-high insurance rates. Of particular controversy is House Bill 148, sponsored by state Rep. Jeff Wiley, R-Gonzales. That bill gives Louisiana’s insurance commissioner—currently Tim Temple—the authority to reject “excessive” rate hikes.
Baton Rouge Gallery’s empty wine bottles will now fortify Louisiana’s coast

1 week ago | businessreport.com | Dillon Lowe

The Baton Rouge Gallery has entered into a partnership with Glass Half Full, a New Orleans-based nonprofit glass recycler, that will see the local art gallery turn its empty wine bottles into a buffer against coastal erosion. Starting in June, all wine bottles emptied during BRG’s increasingly popular First Wednesday Openings will be processed by Glass Half Full into fine sand.
Why the riverfront has emerged as a key focus area of Plan Baton Rouge III

1 week ago | businessreport.com | Dillon Lowe

Baton Rouge has sat on the bank of the Mississippi River for centuries, but many in the community feel that the Red Stick hasn’t done enough to capitalize on its status as a riverfront city. That may soon change. As the international planning and design firm Sasaki continues to develop Plan Baton Rouge III, downtown Baton Rouge’s new master plan, one sentiment has emerged clearly from meetings with stakeholders and engagement with the public: It’s time for Baton Rouge to reconnect with the river.
Founders Fest postponed until the fall; kickoff event is still on for Wednesday

1 week ago | businessreport.com | Dillon Lowe

The inaugural Founders Fest, a two-day event originally scheduled for May 28 and 29, has been postponed until the fall. Abbey Lovett, the festival’s organizer, tells Daily Report that she made the decision to pivot after hearing from a number of prospective sponsors, partners and attendees who were eager to get involved but unable to do so on such a quick turnaround. The event, which is aimed at celebrating and supporting entrepreneurs in Baton Rouge, was announced just last month.
30-second strategy: How women can build confidence in male-dominated fields

2 weeks ago | businessreport.com | Dillon Lowe

How can women in male-dominated fields build confidence in rooms where they may be the only woman present? When asked that question during Business Report’s Tuesday afternoon Influential Women in Business panel, Kodi Guillory, owner and president of Sustainable Design Solutions, contended that confidence is built first and foremost through authenticity. In short: Be true to yourself and remember that there’s a reason you’re in the room to begin with.