Representatives of five rural Louisiana regions participated with USDA Rural Development, Southern Rural Development Center, Louisiana Economic Development, and the AgCenters at Louisiana State and Southern University as they launched the “Stronger Economies Together” (SET) Program. This meeting was held at the LSU Agricultural Center located in Central Louisiana.
This kickoff starts the planning stage for the teams as they work together to develop new approaches to strengthen and enhance regional economic development activities in their communities. Stacey Brayboy, USDA Rural Development, Director of Community and Economic Development from Washington, D.C. was the keynote speaker.
Over sixty individuals from the following Regions participated; the Louisiana Delta Coalition which covers the parishes of East Carroll, Franklin, Madison, Morehouse, Richland, Tensas, West Carroll, Concordia, Catahoula, Jackson, and Ouachita. The Pointe Coupee and West Feliciana Cooperative Development Initiative based in New Roads, encompasses both Pointe Coupee and West Feliciana Parishes. The Northshore Parishes Alliance is comprised of St. Helena, Tangipahoa, and Washington Parishes. The Acadiana Regional Development District covers an eight parish area of the state known as Acadiana, which includes the parishes of Acadia, Evangeline, St. Landry, and St. Martin. Coordinating and Development Corporation, a Shreveport based organization, encompasses the parishes of Bienville, Bossier, Caddo, Claiborne, DeSoto, Lincoln, Natchitoches, Red River, Sabine, and Webster Parishes in Louisiana.
This training will cover nine course modules on “Strategies for Building New Economic Opportunities”. To find out more about USDA Regional Economic Development efforts click here.
