Moving Forward Together

FROM ARCHIE CHAISSON, LAFOURCHE PARISH PRESIDENT

The five pillars set by President Archie Chaisson as a foundation to move Lafourche Parish forward included local tax reform, economic diversification, drainage and infrastructure improvements, coastal restoration, and recreation expansion.

“Local tax reform has never been more important than it is now,” emphasized President Chaisson. “The tax reform process has entered the phase of its evolution towards actionable legislation.”

The drainage and infrastructure improvements completed thus far parish-wide have been tested storm after storm since 2020. However, preparation for the next season always drives more improvements.

For the year ahead, over $10 million dollars is budgeted toward drainage and infrastructure improvements. The budget is a combination of grant dollars secured for pump station improvements as well as dedicated tax dollars. As with drainage infrastructure, coastal restoration is paramount to protection.

Lafourche Parish Government, Nicholls State University, and the Coastal Protection and Restoration Authority (CPRA) announced the beginning of the development of the Coastal Center at Nicholls State University. Lafourche Parish Government dedicated $500,000 of the parish’s Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) funds towards development.

“While every effort to move Lafourche forward is important, recreation seems to be the topic most people want to discuss because it’s fun and brings families and communities together. We were excited to unveil our stateof- the-art community center in Lockport this past year, and plan to expand in other districts,” said President Chaisson.

“None of our accomplishments thus far or future goals could be met without the support of the entire community. When I said it would take us moving forward together, those words have never rung truer than they do today,” expressed President Chaisson.