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The City of Patterson is working on economic development.
Mayor Rodney Grogan said efforts “to independently stimulate economic development within the city” are under way. The city is working with Frank Fink, economic development director for St. Mary Parish.
Patterson City Manager Dave Lowery said the focus is very prudent.
“Patterson has more available land than Berwick and Morgan City. We’re moving into the future, and we want our citizens to join us,” he said.
Grogan said the efforts are the second attempt in more than 40 years to formalize a strategic plan for economic development within the city. The mayor said Patterson has applied, and has been accepted to be part of the Louisiana Development Ready Community Program.
The program was started in 2006 as a means for the state to assist communities to become development-ready and competitive in the global economy. The program is open to all Louisiana municipalities.
To help the city implement the plan, Grogan has hired Patterson resident Anne Melancon Perry, sister of former U.S. Congressman Charlie Melancon, to spearhead the effort.
Perry is also a former regional director for the Louisiana Office of Economic Development.
“Terrebonne Parish applied and was accepted into this program a couple of years ago. Of course, it was icing on the cake for them, but I believe it just added to their efforts in selling their community,” Perry said.
“Now, here in Patterson, there is no doubt in my mind, with this energetic mayor, this city will go after and get industry to locate here,” she said. “A majority of the residents of Patterson work outside the city. However, a good size of folks, who would love to work, have no transportation to do so. If the end result of our efforts can marry some of that, too, the energy and excitement that will exist will make lots of people take note.”
Perry said she believes the city will develop an inviting website as one of the means of drawing attention to the area.
“Once that’s up, the state will be able to pitch us to prospective parties,” she said.
Joining Perry, Grogan and the city council in its focus on economic development is a steering committee that will meet at least two to three times a month to monitor progress and to add suggestions.
“We’re all in this to come up with a model that will work for Patterson,” Perry said.
Grogan has also held two town hall meetings to gain citizens’ input and has conducted a survey online using Facebook and offline via forms available at City Hall.
“We’re going grassroots, but we’re moving. Our goals are to engage and inspire,” he said.
State Rep. Sam Jones (D-Franklin) has also lent his efforts in the focus on economic development for Patterson.
After this year’s fiscal legislative session, Jones was able to procure $35,000 for Patterson to fund a Main Street program.
“Historic preservation and business retention, there is a strong economic development component in there,” he said. “A Main Street program keeps the viability of what you have going. It makes the small business already in existence, stronger, another key factor in economic development.”
Jones said the Main Street Program can also be easily meshed into the La. Development Ready Community Program.
“It’s all a win-win when it comes to driving local economics,” he said.
Jones believes that Patterson can attract oil service industry businesses to their area.
“We’re seeing the service industry grow, working its way out of Lafayette and New Iberia and moving east toward us. Many businesses at the West St. Mary Port are looking for large amounts of employees. I think if attention is focused here, they will see results.”
Grogan said he realizes getting national retailers to locate to Patterson may be tough, “however, we’re going to do what we can to grab a few big name eateries.”
