JENNINGS — The membership of the Jeff Davis Business Alliance voted in favor of changing the organization’s name to the Jeff Davis Chamber of Commerce.

President Cynthia Hoffpauir said both the executive board and membership agreed to the name change to give the group a more familiar identity to better reflect its role and mission in serving the business community.

“Now people will know what our job is and what the work we do is because most people know what a chamber of commerce does,” Hoffpauir said.

Many people were confused with the Business Alliance’s name and its role in the business community, she said.

“Many people didn’t know we were the chamber of commerce because they didn’t associate the name with the chamber,” she said. “Now people will be able to identify us better with the name change and with everything going on on Main Street with the new City Hall and relocation of the Zigler Art Museum, more people will want to know more about our parish.”

During a recent poll, the alliance’s 384 members overwhelming voted in favor of the name change by a vote of 109-1.

Only one member voted against the name change, but did not give a reason for the opposition, Alliance Chairman Bryan Leger said.

The official name change is expected to take effect early next year, Hoffpauir said.

The alliance changed its name from the Greater Jennings Chamber of Commerce in 2005, when it formed a parishwide organization.

The organization will continue to represent businesses in and around Jeff Davis Parish, Hoffpauir said.(MGNonline)