The first shovels hit the dirt on Friday as part of the some $25 million in infrastructure improvement funds awarded to Vernon Parish.

Parish and Leesville officials celebrated the groundbreaking at the Veteran’s Cemetery on University Parkway in Leesville. The parkway, also known as La. 467, is also the site of where the current ground water revamping will begin. The project is just one of more than 20 projects in the parish that will be funded by 2013 capital outlay funding.

“These funds will provide the kickstart we need to spur economic development here,” said Vernon Parish Police Jury President James Tuck. “Lack of adequate infrastructure has been the primary obstacle in attracting many economic development opportunities in the past.”

The highway will also be the site of a facelift to Leesville’s sewer system, on the opposite side of the street.

From left: Vernon Parish Police Juror Cryer