LDRCs Offer Hands-On Community Development
Development-ready communities are “open for business”
The Louisiana Development Ready Communities Program (LDRC) incentivizes communities to bolster their economic development strategy, fostering success and encouraging communities to create a plan to leverage assets and address challenges.
From cultivating innovative leadership to evaluating each community’s strengths and weaknesses, the LDRC Program pushes community leaders to develop a guiding vision and actionable goals. And since its inception in 2011, the program has expanded from eight communities to over 50. Some of this year’s new LDRCs include:
- Abbeville: The Abbeville administration and council members, the Vermilion Economic Development Alliance, and various local civic organizations and business owners, Abbeville secured the LDRC designation.
- St. John: The parish economic development department, chamber of commerce officials, tourism partners, and business and organization leaders from across St. John the Baptist were all part of the team that helped secure the parish’s LDRC designation.
- Jeff Davis: Through the distribution of community surveys, town hall meetings and multiple committee meetings, Jeff Davis identified strengths and opportunities for additional growth, getting ready to implement a three-year action plan to ensure the parish’s continued growth and success.
- Killian: As the first town in Livingston Parish to receive an LDRC designation, Killian is moving into an exciting time. The town administration, tourism partners and community leaders from Killian were all part of the team that helped secure the LDRC designation, positioning the town for enhanced strategic economic growth.
- Slidell: Originally recognized during the pilot program in 2009, this year Slidell was reaccredited as an LDRC. St. Tammany Corporation CEO Chris Masingill and his team led the city in updating its strategic plan and securing the reaccreditation, signaling that community leaders will continue to create competitive advantages for businesses there.
- Lafourche: Lafourche parish leaders joined tourism partners, chamber of commerce officials and other stakeholders across the area for a planning effort that began in February of this year. They also sent a survey to parish residents and business owners for input on future development and economic goals, looking at the parish’s assets and strengths as well as areas of opportunity.