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BATON ROUGE — Louisiana Economic Development recognized St. John the Baptist Parish as the state’s newest Louisiana Development Ready Community in a presentation during the St. John the Baptist Parish Legislative Day at the Capitol. The parish becomes the 50th participant in the community development program, now in its 14th year.
The Louisiana Development Ready Communities program helps participants prepare and become more competitive for new investment and jobs. The program guides selected communities through the creation and implementation of a strategic plan. By following its plan for multiple years, participants leverage their assets and address their particular challenges to become more competitive in attracting growth to their communities.
“Community leaders and public officials in St. John the Baptist have participated in our program and gained knowledge and insights to better position this community for new business attraction and existing business retention,” LED Secretary Don Pierson said. “The Louisiana Development Ready Communities program is making a difference for communities across Louisiana. This program is key to building new business investments and securing quality jobs. On behalf of LED, I extend my congratulations to all of the parish leaders who have participated in this rigorous program, and who are now better prepared to foster economic growth in their community.”
The parish economic development department, chamber of commerce officials, tourism partners, business and organization leaders from across the parish were all part of the team that helped secure the LDRC designation. Through the distribution of community surveys, town hall meetings and multiple committee meetings, the team identified strengths and opportunities for additional growth, all directed at positioning the parish for enhanced economic momentum.
“It is through programs like Louisiana Development Ready Communities that parishes like ours gain the tools needed to grow and ensure we are better equipped to compete in today’s business landscape,” St. John Parish President Jaclyn Hotard said. “I want to thank LED for their assistance and we look forward to continuing to make progress as we move through the steps in our community plan.”
“The St. John the Baptist Parish Department of Economic Development is excited to see the strategies developed with the LED team put into action to achieve our identified goals,” Stanley Bienemy, Director of Economic Development for St. John the Baptist said.
For more information about the LDRC program, visit the LED website or contact LED Director of Community Competitiveness Stacey Neal at stacey.neal@la.gov or 225-342-4703.