Macon Ridge Enterprise Community

Latest Progress Reports

State: Louisiana
Parishes (Census Tracts): Catahoula (9801, 9802), Concordia (9901, 9902), Franklin (9506), Morehouse (9504), Tensas (9801, 9803)
Community Population: 29,638
Community Area Size: 848 square miles
Poverty Rate (average of all tracts): 39.1 %
Unemployment Rate: 14.8 for the five parish area

Overview

The Macon Ridge Economic Development Region's (MREDR) strategic plan is based on the agricultural and recreational resources of the area. Major goal of the Enterprise Community is to reduce poverty to the National average level or below. This will be done through education programs for area youths and adults; create employment opportunities to help retain local youthin the region; insure equal access to improved housing; develop a diversified rural economy utilizing human and natural resources; and, develop institutional and mentoring resources necessary to sustain community leadership.

The major strategies are: economic development, educational support, telecommunications, community facilities, health care and leadership development.

Key Activities

MREDR is to operate projects that will retain current businesses and recruit new businesses for local adults and youth. A revolving loan fund and a technical assistance program is being set up to assist small businesses. A small business incubator is established with capital from an SBA One Stop Capital Shop.

A Macon Ridge Business Center will operate a community facilities fund to assist local development. A housing rehabilitation program is established and the MREDR is developing a transportation infrastructure plan.

Community Building:

The Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service is to provide training under its community Lladership and economic development program. All members of the Macon Ridge Advisory Council must take the training as a condition of their continued service on the Council. The education support component will expand vocational education services and increase staff at the adult learning center. Expanded and improved head start services with additional staff will provide extended day school program. An Education Coordinator position is established and additional elementary school counselors and teachers will be hired. Delta Service Corps volunteers will be recruited for service within the zone.

Sustainable Community and Economic Development:

A telecommunications network is to be established, equipment will be leased and staff will be recruited and trained.

The health care component will focus on a mobile medical unit to service the region. Additional nurses are being recruited and MREDR has received waivers from the State to allow nurses to write prescriptions within the zone. A drug abuse program will also be conducted.

Major Public Sector Commitments: $ 7.4 million

Local Government Resources:

The Tensas School District will rent a high school property for a business incubator at a cost of $1 per year.

State Government Resources:

The state is to provide 10 percent or $4 million for a rural EC. The State Department of Economic Development will contribute $700,000 toward salaries and administrative support for two staff persons per year. The State Office of Rural Development will provide a grant of $100,000 for the economic development marketing plan and fund $600,000 of in-kind services over ten years. The State Department of Agriculture and Forestry are providing $2 million in Intermediary Relending Program funding.

Major Private Sector Commitments: $ 300,000

The Louisiana Power and Light has committed $300,000 of in-kind services to the project over ten years.

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