Community Development Initiative

Louisiana's Vision 2020 Action Plan calls for the development of a comprehensive strategy for rural and community development. The following goals were identified to accomplish the strategy:

1. Create a working group that includes representatives of the Governor's Office, Louisiana Economic Development and other appropriate state agencies, the LSU Ag Center, Southern University Ag Center and regional economic development practitioners, representatives of rural areas and small communities.
2. Identify promising practices in rural and community development as well as structures to facilitate implementation.
3. Identify components that need to be addressed in Louisiana's strategic plan for rural and community development.
4. Assess regional economic development strategies and how they can support rural areas.
5. Develop a scope of work, determine funding needs, and identify possible sources of funds.

To address the goals, LED and a statewide team of stakeholders has identified the issues and needs for community development in the state, as well as set apart a collection of tools needed to enable a community development program.

In this section: