Economic panel kicks off visit to area

A panel of experts in different fields is in the midst of an intense, week-long visit to Morgan City and Berwick that will conclude with a presentation Friday listing recommendations for economic diversification and development.

An open house was held at the former M.D. Shannon Elementary School building in Morgan City to allow community members to meet with panelists in an informal setting.

The seven panelists were selected to join the Advisory Services team of Urban Land Institute, a global non-profit education and research organization, and are visiting with the area this week to meet and interview different people, a news release stated.

St. Mary Excel, a local community organization, commissioned the study after raising over $135,000 from both public and private entities. The goal of the study is learn how the area can use its waterways to diversify its economy beyond just the oil and gas sector, which has been in a downturn the past few years.

Alrich Lynch, panel chairman, is senior managing director for LDG Consulting in Atlanta. LDG advises its customers on real estate, primarily multi-family housing units and mixed use development.

Other panelists have expertise in tourism, natural resource and community development, architecture, project financing and city planning.

“We’re just trying to look at both economic development ideas, housing ideas, things to try and ensure that both Berwick and Morgan City can start moving in the right direction, reverse loss of population and loss of jobs,” Lynch said.

Lynch had some “deep conservations” with people during Monday’s open house and got “unfiltered commentary” on their ideas, he said.

He and the six others on the panel don’t have “any pre-conceived notions” about what their recommendations will be at the end of the week, he said.

Urban Land Institute’s network of over 42,000 members allows the Advisory Services team to be selective and choose the right combination of experts for each assignment, Lynch said.

The panel will present a draft of its recommendations during a public presentation from 9-10:30 a.m. Friday at the Morgan City Municipal Auditorium. Those recommendations will be followed by issuance of a formal, written report within the next few months.

Panelists arrived in the area Sunday evening, met with officials and then toured Morgan City and Berwick during the day Monday, said Catherine Holcomb, a member of St. Mary Excel.

The panel of experts was scheduled to interview specific people, including business owners and teachers, Holcomb said. St. Mary Excel compiled a list of questions pertaining to industrial diversification, partnerships and infrastructure for Urban Land Institute’s panel to answer during its visit.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the panel will meet and formulate their recommendations based on their visit and interviews with community members, said Alice Pecoraro, also a member of St. Mary Excel.

Pecoraro and Holcomb are among a group of retired educators from the area who began meeting about 2 1/2 years ago with the goal of facilitating conversations among community leaders to look for ways to diversify the area’s economy.