Unity in the Community
That was the slogan for the Economic Development Conference hosted by State Representative Nite Rusich Hutter on January 11, 2004. Held in the Welcome Center of Nunez Community College, the Conference was sponsored by several the civic and business organizations within St. Bernard Parish: Kiwanis Club of St. Bernard ~ Arabi, Rotary Club of St. Bernard, St. Bernard Business & Professional Women's Club, St. Bernard Chamber of Commerce, and the St. Bernard Parish Economic Development Commission.
These groups were not the only ones represented. From both inside and outside of these groups you have various small and large businesses represented as well as the St. Bernard Port, Harbor, & Terminal District, St. Bernard School Board, Nunez Community College, Louisians Department of Labor, and the St. Bernard Parish Council (council members in attendance were Joey DiFatta, Lynn Dean, Judy Hoffmeister, and Craig Taffaro).
The purpose of the event was to get ideas from the businesses and residents of the parish on what they thought should be the key areas that should be targeted to improve St. Bernard Parish.
Afte being split into groups of 10-12 people, each group was to come up with six different areas they though should be improved upon within the parish. The striking thing among this was that among the eight or nine different groups, when all the ideas were collected, there was an overwelming amount of overlap between the groups.
When you think the opportunity was there for over 50 different ideas to be presented to the entire group and only nine were counted, it is simply amazing how much the business leaders of this parish are in consensus.
Here is the list of ideas that were presented, in no special order:
- Busniss Opportunities
- Education
- Infrastructure - transportation, traffic
- Revelopment / Land use
- Quality of Life
- Government conducive to business
- Image
- Community Involvement
- Fiscally sound government
When you look at this list, it is easy to agree with everything on it. There may be differences in how people would rank them in terms of importance, but everyone agreed they should be on the list.
The next step will be to see if Rep. Hutter and our other government leaders can use this list as a spring board to improve life for the citizens of St. Bernard. Credit must be given to Rep. Hutter for staging this conference. Although our other state representive, Mr. Ken Odinet of Arabi was in attendance at the beginning of the conference, he had no other involvement in it.
It was a disappointment to not see Mr. Odinet involved and newly elected State Senator Walter Boasso was also absent from the conference. Not knowing any of Mr. Odinet's staff members, I cannot comment on whether or not he had anyone else from his office in attendance, but Sen. Boasso did have E.J. Laviolette of Boasso America in attendance.
This conference also proved why St. Bernard needs more events like this to take place. Not one member of the media was spotted, whether from the Times-Picayune, St. Bernard Voice, or any of the tv or radio news stations. I haven't quite decided who this reflects poorly on, St. Bernard Parish, Rep. Hutter, or the media outlets themselves.
Be good to yourself,
Westley Annis
westley@da-parish.com
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posted by Westley at 2/12/2004 12:37:34 AM
