LEONARD GRAY

HAHNVILLE – A new strategic plan for economic development is in the works for St. Charles Parish, prompted by a need to address changing times for the rapidly developing area. Corey Faucheux, director of the parish’s Department of Tourism and Community Development, said of the new plan, “In my opinion, it’s one of the most important things we’re doing.” At the mid-year point, economic development has slowed slightly according to several indicators. Faucheux said from the heavy industrial side, activity is strong; while manufacturing is slow here, as elsewhere. Business start-ups in St. Charles Parish are slightly down from the previous year, according to Faucheux’s department, when 146 new businesses launched in 2000 – 94 in the first six months. For the same period this year, 60 businesses have launched. Business closures totaled 64 during 2000, with 46 in the first six months. During the same period this year, St. Charles Parish experienced 33 business closures. This means while the number of new businesses has slowed, the number of business closures has likewise slowed, indicating a stabilizing of the business community. Commercial and residential construction statistics, provided by the parish’s Department of Planning and Zoning, indicate a dramatic drop in activity. A total of 38 commercial building permits were issued during 2000, with 25 of them in the first six months. During the first six months of 2001, only six commercial building permits were issued. Residential building permits for 2000 totaled 162, with 102 during the first six months. During the first six months of 2001, 101 residential permits were issued, indicating a stable, steady pace. Another economic indicator, employment rates from the Louisiana Department of Labor, showed St. Charles Parish with an average unemployment rate of 5.6 percent during 2000, with a best in May 2000 of 3.9 percent and a worst rate in December 2000 at 6.6 percent. During the first four months of 2001, unemployment peaked at 7.2 percent but dropped to 4.6 percent by the end of April. Given this atmosphere, a long-range strategic plan is even more important, Faucheux said. “It’s like with a business plan. You have to know where you are now and where you want to be,” he said. The parish developed its first strategic plan for economic development in 1989 and revised it in 1995. Now, Faucheux added, a new plan is overdue, given the latest developments in the parish, ranging from the coming of Wal-Mart in Boutte to the projected Luling growth from the Ashton Plantation subdivision, which may top out at 2,000 new homes and a new elementary school. “The parish has changed so much in the past five to 10 years,” Faucheux said. He said the earlier plans generated ideas and concepts which have since come into fruition, while outlining other needs the parish has yet to fully address. The parish has a recycling program and a booklet developed to guide the new business owner. Yet, the parish still needs to develop a comprehensive building code or develop a civic center. The new strategic plan will not only provide ideas but also a blueprint for accomplishing the goals, with timetables and assigned responsibilities. “I can’t emphasize enough the importance of this,” Faucheux said.