By ROBIN SHANNON

L’Observateur

LAPLACE – Although Louisiana has so far avoided the hard affects of the national economic downturn, Lt. Gov. Mitch Landrieu said Friday that the state needs to remain financially vigilant in an effort to keep the positive momentum going.

Landrieu was in LaPlace Friday morning speaking to a moderately sized crowd of River Parishes residents and government leaders as part of a statewide town hall tour. The lieutenant governor touched on a wide range of topics including tourism, alternate fuel sources and the state’s pursuit of funds from the economic stimulus package.

Landrieu said tourism levels reached record numbers last year following an almost complete downfall after hurricane’s Katrina and Rita. He said the industry, which is valued at nearly $10 billion a year, helped lead the recovery of Louisiana following the storms.

“In Louisiana, we know how to celebrate life,” Landrieu said. “We have a strong ‘cultural economy’ that has many facets and is often exposed nationally.”

Landrieu said part of that ‘cultural economy’ includes the burgeoning film industry that has taken the state by storm. Landrieu said the state played host to 80 motion picture projects, many of which were filmed in locations within the River Parishes.

“You are sitting in a building that is a part of this recent success story in Louisiana,” Landrieu said, referring to the St. John Community Center, where the talk was held. “The soundstage within this building helped make it cost effective to film movies here.”

Landrieu said there are concerns about tourism in the coming years because of a limited number of visitors to New Orleans but said his office is working on initiatives to attract more visitors to the area and encourage them to extend their stays across the state.

Landrieu also spoke of the necessity of utilizing the vast amounts of sugar cane grown in the state for alternative fuel sources such as ethanol, an initiative that has already begun in South America.

“This will keep our sugar farmers working for years to come,” said Landrieu.

A question from the audience prompted Landrieu to spend some time on what the state stands to gain from the recently passed economic stimulus package. Landrieu said he disagreed with Gov. Bobby Jindal’s plans to reject about $98 million in stimulus money for unemployment compensation since it would require a change in Louisiana law.

“I want to get as much money back as I can,” Landrieu said. “It’s our money and if we are not aggressive in going after it another state will get it.”

Landrieu said the state is set to receive anywhere from $2.9 billion to $3.9 billion in stimulus money that will go toward healthcare and education and should alleviate having to make cuts in other areas.

Landrieu said he has spent the past two weeks engaging in talks of this fashion in various locations across the state. He said he likes the feel of the town hall because residents can come in and ask and say whatever they want.

“Response has been overwhelmingly positive,” Landrieu said. “It has allowed me to listen to some of the concerns our residents have.”