Elected officials and community leaders from across Acadia Parish learned how the concept of Creative Placemaking can enhance quality of life and result in economic prosperity during a kickoff dinner for the local initiative Wednesday night.
Zach Mannheimer, principal community planner, and Alex Holland, lead community planner with McClure Engineering Co., told the group of success stories in locales across the country as they outlined their plans to meet with citizens in each of five areas across the parish.
The information gleaned from these five “visioning sessions” will be used to compile a Cultural and Arts Economic Master Plan for Acadia Parish.
The meetings were held Thursday and Friday in Rayne, Crowley, Iota, Church Point and Estherwood (Fifth Ward).
Laurie Suire, project manager, said the duo will be visiting the area again but stressed that the Thursday and Friday meetings would provide the most crucial information to be used in development of the master plan.
Suire explained that funding for the development of the master plan came from a variety of sources, including $45,000 in grant money from the Delta Regional Authority.
Other sponsors include the Acadia Parish Police Jury, School Board, Tourist Commission and Chamber of Commerce; Acadia General Hospital, Cox Communications, SLEMCO, Grand Opera House, Rotary Club of Crowley, Cadien Toujours, Rayne Building and Loan, the former OneAcadia and a private trust.
Mannheimer explained that Creative Placemaking helps rural communities achieve economic and population growth through cultural and entrepreneurial amenities, concepts and catalytic projects.
“We work with a community from initial visioning to opening doors to build strong communities,” he said. “McClure Engineering Company’s goal is to walk into your community and be able to learn your needs, address your challenges, and provide a comprehensive package, engaging our partner consultants when and where their expertise is needed.”
Among the services offered by the company are:
• cultural assessment and visioning;
• capital resource identification;
• business models for long-term sustainability; and
• implementation, including fundraising, marketing, hiring staff and opening doors.
Holland said the master plans developed by McClure Engineering are designed to “prepare communities for 30 years from now.”
While the plan will take some time to develop, Suire promised that it will “result in a new business or amenity for each area of the parish.”
And, Suire reminded, “Delivery of the master plan is not the end of the project, it’s the beginning.”
