Prepare for a transformation as the Evangeline Chamber of Commerce has begun its effort to revitalize downtown Ville Platte.
This task is set to consist of an array of programs that will range from partnering with business owners to clean up the front of businesses as well as painting buildings that line the Main Street drag.
On Wednesday, Evangeline Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Renee Brown addressed a room full of chamber members during a meeting at Café Evangeline - a restaurant housed in a historic building along Main Street. The topic of discussion centered around bringing the parish seat’s downtown area back to life.
This process, Brown explained, will consist of working on curb appeal. The chamber executive director said, “We want to put together a workforce where once a month we would meet with and visit with a business owner,” said Brown. The purpose of this, Brown continued, would be to “see if we could partner with them in getting some donations, possibly getting a little bit of funding from some business owners, looking into grants and other opportunities that might be available to us and actually start as a group of volunteers working to paint buildings and to clean up the front of our streets and the fronts of all of our downtown businesses.”
Along with cleaning sidewalks and fronts of buildings, Brown expressed she is hoping business owners will also assist in painting buildings whether it is through monetary donations or by taking part in the manual labor itself.
Brown hopes to take this effort one step further and work to see that even vacant buildings are given a facelift. She said, “We would like to do this with vacant buildings as well so it looks appealing when individuals are driving through our town looking for business areas.”
Jay Gielow, who owns Cafe Evangeline with is wife Jeanné Mouton, then addressed the crowded restaurant to share details about the farmer’s market that will begin taking place in Ville Platte this March. However, before that he shared his thoughts on the need there is for people to work together on this project.
“We are downtown so obviously we want to see economic viability and equability downtown increase so we are wanting to see what we can do to help. We can’t do anything by ourself,” said Gielow. “It’s not my place to say why or what but I see a lot of disconnect taking place and it should be more connection taking place with people working together and showing some pride in bettering things. It is amazing what you can do when there is some pride in making things look good.”
Gielow then shared the first Friday in March, Ville Platte will have a farmer’s market set up in an open lot near the Swamp Pop Museum. The local business owner said this event will be more than just a place where you can get fruits and vegetables. According to Gielow, “there will be artisans and we want local involvement as well.”
Brown then built on this topic by stating, “We want to invite all of our businesses in town to come set up a pop up shop and do a little exhibit of what you have in your store, sell items and give out flyers and business cards. You can let people know you have a store front and let them know where it is located. It is an opportunity for all our businesses to be able to exhibit themselves.” Visitors to the event can also expect to enjoy live music and therefore Brown said, “We want people to bring their lawn chairs and sit out and enjoy downtown.”
During the gathering, Brown also shared the newly created Evangeline Art Council will be assisting in the effort to beautify Ville Platte by “designing murals for buildings who have owners who are interested in it.”
With this, Brown hopes to mimic something she heard is happening in another nearby community. Brown said, “I visited Rayne a while back, and I had a chance to visit Crowley. Rayne is very proud of and speaks of the beautiful murals they in town.
“They have an actual walking tour so people can actually walk through town and enjoy the murals, and the murals have a history with them.”
This major effort being made to revitalize downtown Ville Platte, is one Mayor Jennifer Vidrine thanked all in attendance at the meeting for taking part in. She said, “Thank you for coming and caring about our Main Street. It is the nucleus of Ville Platte, and if we all get together we can do whatever it takes to move Ville Platte forward.”
Along with the mayor, other officials in attendance at the meeting were Ville Platte City Council Members Mike Perron, Faye Lemoine and Bryant Riggs, Evangeline Parish Clerk of Court Randy Deshotel, Evangeline Parish Police Juror Bryan Vidrine, and Louisiana State Representative Bernard LeBas.