Jeff Davis Parish could see influx of residents
Published 10:03 am Thursday, January 15, 2015
JENNINGS — Jeff Davis Parish needs to prepare for an influx of residents as an expected economic boom hits Southwest Louisiana with large-scale projects bringing in thousands of workers and their families, according to the parish’s economic development director.
“We keep hearing a lot about the expansion in the Lake Charles area, but they are moving this way and we need to be ready for this,” Economic Developer Marion “Butch” Fox said Tuesday in providing an economic update to the Jennings City Council.
“They are saying 60 percent of the people moving down will live in Lake Charles and 40 percent will move our way, so we really need to think about housing and infrastructure.”
The parish’s Economic Development Office is working with several developers to look at apartment complexes for the Jennings area, she said.
“We need transitional housing so that families can get a feel of the area, then move into a (larger) home,” she said.
Economic officials are also working with shopping consultants to attract more retail shops to Jennings, Welsh and along the Interstate 10 corridor.
The Economic Development Office is also working on some major projects that are expected to be announced by Gov. Bobby Jindal later this year. Fox was unable to provide specifics on the projects pending negotiations and their official announcement.
“Economic development is a process and it’s a long, drawn-out affair,” she said. “Sometimes we just have to go with the flow.”
Locally, plans are moving forward on a new $10 million Sowela Technical Community College to be located on a 10-acre site next to Jennings High School on Sherman Street. A groundbreaking is expected soon.
The facility will replace the overcrowded and outdated Morgan Smith campus on North Main Street in Jennings.
Plans are also underway to improve the Louisiana Oil and Gas Park.
Two new lighted fountains were added to the pond last year and plans are ongoing for a new, larger gator chateau with boardwalk to showcase the alligator exhibit at the park.
Mayor Terry Duhon said construction on the new Jennings City Hall is coming along despite project delays.
“We were suppose to be in the building by Jan. 15, however due to construction delays we will not be in there until March,” he said.
The contractor will be charged $500 a calendar day for liquidated damages beginning Jan. 15 until the project is complete.
“It is still a work in progress,” Duhon said. “There is still a lot of detail work to do, but we hope to be in the building by March and have our first (council) meeting there in April,” he said.
The first floor of the new City Hall will house the council chambers and an adjacent executive session chamber along with the city’s water department. Administrative offices and an additional meeting room will be located on the second floor.
The Zigler Art Museum will also be relocated to the new City Hall.
(MGNonline)