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Western Ouachita study to 'shape our future'
What western Ouachita Parish should do to ensure it prospers in the future will be the focus of a $60,000 study funded by Louisiana Economic Development Corp. and the city of West Monroe.
Acting at its regular meeting Tuesday, the West Monroe Board of Aldermen approved a cooperative endeavor agreement between the city and LEDC to conduct the study, which was described as a "community visioning program." Though the city will put up $30,000 toward the cost of the study, the project is being spearheaded locally by the West Monroe/West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce.
The study will be conducted by Jay Garner of Competitive Strategies Group and by Angela Kemper of Kemper Consulting. Their firms specialize in conducting studies related to economic development endeavors.
"This project will involve a study that will benefit the people of western Ouachita Parish," said West Monroe Mayor Dave Norris.
"LEDC thinks it (the study) could serve as a model for other communities around the state," Norris said.
Norris described the study as an "opportunity" for West Monroe and western Ouachita Parish, including the people who live and work here. Norris said the study would be somewhat similar to the 20-year master plan a private consultant recently completed for the city of Monroe.
"This is simply an effort to give us a guide to make western Ouachita a better place to live and work," Norris continued. "We are going to receive input from people who live here and work here. They will have a say in what direction West Monroe and western Ouachita should take in the years to come."
"The study will look at how we can improve our economy, education, health care and the environment," he said. "All of those issues will be addressed by the study. Those issues determine the future of western Ouachita."
"Basically, this is the community's opportunity to develop a long-term plan for all of western Ouachita," Norris added.
Mary Ann Newton, president of the West Monroe/West Ouachita Chamber of Commerce, said the study would solicit input from the western Ouachita community through surveys, forums, town hall-type meetings and through discussion groups. She said the six areas of concern the study would focus on include quality of place, government, public sector leadership, education, community improvement and branding.
"Our decision to be a partner in this process was supported unanimously by the chamber's board of directors," Newton said. "It is an opportunity to assess our community and to create a strategic plan for improvement, enhancement and growth."
"West Monroe is a community possessing a wide array of positive attributes," Newton continued. "We have done a poor job of marketing our community. This process will enable us to correct and improve our shortcomings and highlight and accentuate our positives.
"We will create a vision, plan and identity unique only to West Monroe. This may very well be the most important project our community has embraced in many, many years. It will shape our future."
One of the firms involved in the study is no stranger to Ouachita Parish.
Competitive Strategies Group conducted the study that led to the formation of North Louisiana Economic Development, a new organization comprised of five parishes. The partnership was formed to pursue economic development endeavors in the region. The five parishes that belong to the partnership are Ouachita, Morehouse, Union, Lincoln and Jackson. |
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